Claiborne County Commission adopts 2023–24 budget after amendments; recognizes $338,400 SRO grant

The Claiborne County Commission approved its 2023–24 appropriations resolution (Res. 2023‑067) at the June 20 meeting in Tazewell after a roll‑call vote that carried 11–10.

The adopted resolution sets appropriations across multiple funds, including the General Fund (Fund 101), Highway/Public Works (Fund 131) and the General Purpose School Fund (Fund 141). The resolution included several commissioner‑proposed amendments before passage — increases for vehicle and equipment insurance, spending authority for courthouse boiler repairs and Chancery Court equipment, and additions for two helipads left incomplete from prior years. The resolution also explicitly allocates wheel‑tax revenue: $25 to general debt service and $25 to highway capital projects, and documents historical wheel‑tax receipts through 2023.

Commissioners also approved a later amendment during the same meeting to recognize anticipated grant revenue for school resource officers (SROs). County Attorney Estep advised that, because of the budget deadline, reconsideration was appropriate; Commissioner David Mundy’s motion to add $338,400 to account 46290 (Other Public Safety Grants) and correspondingly reduce property‑tax reliance passed 20–1. The amendment was presented as expected one‑time grant revenue to cover SRO program costs.

The adopted appropriations document is a detailed, line‑item budget that the commission spread into the minutes. It specifies funding for county commissions and departments, school funds (including debt service and federal projects), and capital projects. The county’s budget language reiterates auditing and state reporting requirements, and it instructs that future budget amendments be filed and approved according to Tennessee law.

Procedural follow‑ups included instructions to file budget amendments with the county clerk and to secure Comptroller approvals where required. The commission did not finalize a new property tax rate during the initial budget vote; that was considered separately and ultimately remained unresolved during this meeting.

What happens next: the budget takes effect July 1, 2023. The commission’s minutes reflect the adopted amounts and attach the detailed line‑item schedules; any transfers between major categories or action affecting payroll lines will require further commission approval per the resolution.