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Claiborne County budget committee approves FY2026 draft budgets, greenlights sheriff requests and $1.225 million in HUD/CDBG items
Summary
The Claiborne County Public Budget Committee approved FY2026 draft budgets across departments, including a $3.35 million sheriff budget, increased capital vehicle funding for the sheriff, a $365,000 EMS allocation (including a monthly $13,750 subsidy and an estimated $200,000 ambulance), and a $1,224,997 housing and urban development line covering CDBG and HOME grant activity.
The Claiborne County Public Budget Committee convened Feb. 25, 2025, and approved draft FY2026 budgets for multiple county departments and programs, including several items flagged as priorities by department heads.
Sheriff Robert Brooks and Chief Deputy Ronald Hayes presented the sheriff’s draft operating budget of $3,348,946, highlighting that sheriff pay rates lag neighboring jurisdictions. Brooks presented two pay options: a longevity program ($100 per year of service starting at five years, estimated cost $45,000) and a 3% across-the-board increase (estimated cost $122,000). The committee approved the sheriff’s draft budget as presented. Brooks also identified capital needs for the jail (locking/doors, boiler room work, parking lot, roof resealing, HVAC). The committee approved increasing the sheriff’s capital vehicle appropriation from $210,000 to $220,000 to allow vehicles to be fully equipped (motion by Anthony Rowe; seconded by Quinton Rogers).
Committee members reviewed revenues reported by the sheriff’s office: total deposits to the County Trustee of $591,203.27 year-to-date with net commissary revenue of $564,965.33. Members discussed the $4-per-day state reimbursement for housing state inmates and noted the rate could increase if the jail is certified as a tier-one facility.
The committee approved the workhouse budget and other sheriff-related funds as drafted. Committee members also approved multiple departmental budgets: County Mayor ($233,745), County Buildings ($373,096, amended to reduce the vehicle purchase to $30,000), Alcohol and Drug Programs ($100,000), Sanitation Education ($71,472), Economic & Community Development ($65,247), Veterans Services ($44,476), County Commission ($190,223), Board of Equalization ($7,025), Beer Board ($2,500), Budget and Finance Committee ($32,232), Rescue Squad ($36,000), Emergency Management (911) ($60,000), Coroner ($63,500), Rabies & Animal Control ($20,000), Forest Service ($2,000) and Fire Prevention and Control (reduced from $251,000 to $231,000 after a $20,000 training cut).
Ambulance and EMS funding of $365,000 was approved; Mr. Pearson noted the monthly subsidy under the hospital contract is $13,750 and that the county estimated $200,000 would be needed for one additional replacement ambulance. The committee approved a Housing & Urban Development draft budget of $1,224,997 to cover the CDBG food grant, utility contributions to water projects and the HOME grant; Mr. Pearson said figures may be amended later to reflect actual remaining expenditures.
The meeting included a contested amendment to the County Mayor’s travel line: an initial motion to reduce travel from $10,000 to $5,000 failed on roll call; a subsequent motion to set travel at $6,700 passed (roll-call votes recorded in minutes). Several motions were adopted unanimously. The committee scheduled its next meeting for March 4, 2025, at 6 p.m. and adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
