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Sevier County commissioners unanimously approve 2023–24 budget package, authorize TDEC application and form lobbyist committee
Summary
At a June 21 Budget Committee meeting, the Sevier County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a set of resolutions finalizing the FY2023–24 budget, tax levy and related appropriations, authorized a regionalization application to TDEC for the county water board and directed formation of a committee to hire a Nashville lobbyist firm.
Commissioner Fred Atchley called the Sevier County Budget Committee to order at 12:05 p.m. on June 21, 2023, and the panel moved quickly through a slate of budget-related resolutions that together set the county’s fiscal framework for the 2023–24 year beginning July 1.
Mayor Larry Waters presented the package of measures and led officials through each item. The committee unanimously approved Resolution 2023-06-14, amending FY2022–23 budgets for multiple county and school funds to align revenues and expenditures, and then approved a series of coordinating resolutions that together fix the certified tax rate (Resolution 2023-06-17), appropriate funds for the 2023–24 fiscal year (Resolution 2023-06-18), and approve the official FY2023–24 budget documents (Resolution 2023-06-19). Assistant County Mayor Brooke Huffaker and Vice Mayor Bryan McCarter joined Waters in presenting the official budget documents.
The committee also approved related housekeeping measures: Resolution 2023-06-15 to authorize sale or disposal of county vehicles and equipment for the FY2022–23 year, and Resolution 2023-06-16 to approve various lease agreements. Mayor Waters presented Resolution 2023-06-06 to purchase a portion of Parcel 093 147.00 off White Falcon Way–Wears Valley Road; that parcel purchase was approved by motion as well. Each motion was made, seconded and recorded as passing unanimously.
On funding for community groups, the board approved Resolution 2023-06-20 to appropriate funds to various nonprofit organizations that serve Sevier County residents in FY2023–24. The board also approved Resolution 2023-06-22 authorizing the county mayor to apply, on behalf of the Sevier County Water Board, for a Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation competitive regionalization application; commissioners clarified the project routing, with Mayor Waters and Commissioner Ronnie Whaley explaining the line would go to the Pigeon Forge plant.
In other action, Commissioner Kent Woods moved that Chairman Fred Atchley form a committee to hire a Nashville-based lobbying firm to represent Sevier County in Nashville, stipulating the firm should not currently represent any of the county’s cities and that the committee regularly meet with the firm and the Mayor’s Office. Commissioner Bryan Delius seconded the motion; it passed unanimously.
Mayor Waters also updated the committee on the Courts Building project, saying mobilization should begin within about six weeks. The meeting adjourned at 12:52 p.m.
Votes at a glance: motions for each listed resolution were moved, seconded and recorded as passing unanimously; specific mover/second pairs recorded in the minutes include Commissioner Kent Woods and Commissioner Ronnie Whaley for the parcel purchase (Resolution 2023-06-06), Commissioner Warren Hurst and Commissioner Ronnie Whaley for the Highway Fund amendment, Commissioner Kent Woods and Commissioner Gary Cole for Resolution 2023-06-14, and Commissioner Gary Cole and Commissioner Ronnie Whaley for approval of the official budget documents (Resolution 2023-06-19).
