Budget committee approves Finance Director salary after initial failed vote

The Claiborne County Budget Committee approved a $489,259 Accounting & Budgeting budget on March 19, 2024 that includes a Finance Director salary of $95,251, after an earlier roll-call attempt to approve the budget failed.

The initial motion to approve the Accounting & Budgeting budget failed in a roll-call vote, with three members voting yes and six no. Committee members then discussed statutory authority for setting the Finance Director's pay. A committee member reminded the body that, under Tennessee law (section 5-21-106-c, TCA), the Financial Management Committee establishes the compensation for the Finance Director subject to County Commission approval. The Financial Management Committee had recommended a $95,251 minimum salary based on the Fee Officials salary schedule and comparisons with other Act 81 counties, materials the Finance Director provided.

The committee later approved the requested Accounting & Budgeting budget by roll call (seven to two). The committee also recorded that approval of the budget did not indicate unanimous support for the salary increase among members. Committee discussion cited the Finance Director's performance in producing detailed financial reports and extra work outside normal hours as factors supporting the recommended compensation; the mayor (unnamed in the minutes) referenced these performance points during discussion.

The committee's approval places the salary recommendation in the FY2025 budget as presented to the County Commission; any final change to compensation remains subject to the Commission's approval under state law.