Franklin County commissioners approve 2024–25 budget package, tax levy and a string of amendments and contracts

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on May 20, 2024 in Winchester and recorded approvals for a long list of budget amendments, grants and contracts included in the meeting packet. Chair Pro-tem David Eldridge opened the meeting; after the pledge and invocation the board moved through routine business and a slate of resolutions and line-item amendments.

The commission voted to receive and file finance reports for March and April 2024 and the third-quarter financial reports and capital projects updates. Several grouped budget amendments affecting the school general fund, highway fund, library fund, solid waste fund and debt service fund were presented as resolutions (identified in the packet by numbers such as 5a-0524 through 5j-0524 and companion items 5k–5m-0524). Each resolution was moved, seconded and recorded as passed in roll-call votes (tallies recorded in the meeting materials: Yes: 13; No: 0; Abstain: 0; Did not vote: 1; Absent: 3 except where noted). County Mayor Chris Guess was recorded as not voting on several items; three commissioners were absent.

The meeting packet also included items authorizing submission of a Tennessee Department of Transportation litter grant application, an interlocal contract with Waste Management Inc. of Tennessee, and a multi-year managed-services contract for the county's consolidated communications department. Those items were moved, seconded and recorded as passed with the same roll-call pattern.

The packet included personnel-policy updates that the board approved: a change to the sick-leave language and the adoption of an inclement-weather policy that provides 10 inclement-weather days per fiscal year. The board also approved a set of appointments and reappointments (Beer Board, Industrial Development Board, Board of Equalization and an Inter-Local Solid Waste Board appointment) and ratified 12 notary public applications.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (April 15, 2024): Motion by Johnny Hand, second by Carolyn Wiseman — Result recorded: Passed (Yes:13; No:0; Did not vote:1; Absent:3) (see SEG 002). - Report to Finance Director: receive/file March & April finance reports, 3rd quarter financials and capital projects updates — Motion by Johnny Hand, second by Bruce McMillan — Passed (Yes:13; No:0; Absent:3) (SEG 002). - Resolution 5a-0524 through 5d-0524 (Board of Education general fund amendments): Motion by Bruce McMillan, second by Grant Benere — Passed (Yes:13; No:0; Absent:3) (SEG 003–004). - Resolution 5e-0524 (Highway Fund amendment): Motion by Bruce McMillan, second by B. Anderson — Passed (Yes:13; No:0; Absent:3) (SEG 004). - Resolution 5f–5j-0524 (additional General Fund, Library Fund, Solid Waste Fund, Debt Service amendments): Passed by recorded roll calls matching the packet tallies (Yes:13; No:0; Absent:3) (SEG 004–006). - Resolution 5k-0524 (authorize a multi-year managed services agreement for Consolidated Communications): Motion by Bruce McMillan, second by B. Anderson — Passed (Yes:13; No:0; Absent:3) (SEG 007). - Resolution 51-0524 (authorize submission/acceptance of TDOT litter grant for FY2025): Motion by Jared Shetters, second by Monica Jeffers — Passed (Yes:13; No:0; Absent:3) (SEG 007). - Resolution 5m-0524 (approve contracted services agreement with Waste Management Inc. of Tennessee): Motion by Bruce McMillan, second by B. Anderson — Passed (Yes:13; No:0; Absent:3) (SEG 007–008). - Employee handbook updates (sick leave and inclement-weather policy): Motions by Jared Shetters and Bruce McMillan — Passed (Yes:13; No:0; Absent:3) (SEG 008–009). - Approval of (12) notary public applications and appointments/reappointments (Beer Board, Industrial Development Board, Board of Equalization, Inter-Local Solid Waste Board appointment): Motion by Johnny Hand, second by Carolyn Wiseman (notary approval packet) — Passed (Yes:13; No:0; Absent:3) (SEG 009–010). - Adjournment: Motion by Bruce McMillan, second by Jared Shetters — Result recorded: Passed (Yes:12; No:0; Abstain:1 — Johnny Hand; Did not vote:1 — County Mayor Chris Guess; Absent:3) (SEG 011).

What the meeting materials show about the appropriation and tax-levy items: the packet included detailed budget and appropriation documents (including a full Appropriation Resolution and Tax Levy Resolution that bear approval language and dated signatures, many of which carry a June 17, 2024 "passed" line in the attached text). Those documents are part of the meeting materials included in the transcript; the printed resolutions themselves show June 17 dates. The commission's motions recorded on May 20, 2024 ratified the packet items listed on the agenda and voted to receive and file the financial and budget materials (see timeline entries and vote tallies above). The text of the formal appropriation resolution and the tax levy appear in the packet (pages in the transcript) and show their own adoption language and dates inside the documents (SEG 026, SEG 034, SEG 036); the meeting record for May 20 shows the board receiving and approving the listed resolutions and items filed in the packet.

Why it matters: the actions recorded in the packet and by roll call move multiple county funds for FY2024–25, set or confirm local tax distributions for schools and county operations, authorize grant applications and contracts that affect service delivery (solid waste, consolidated communications, litter-control grants) and change employee handbook policy. Even where debate was minimal, the formal roll-call approvals commit county resources or direct staff to execute contracts and grant applications.

What comes next: the meeting adjourned after the recorded votes; the packet contains additional budget and appropriation paperwork (see attached resolutions for procedural and statutory language). Any implementation steps (contract execution, grant acceptance, program starts) will depend on staff follow-up and published effective dates in the awarded grants or executed contracts.