Benton County Commission approves $12.50 court surcharges and a package of budget amendments
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Summary
On Dec. 15, 2025 the Benton County Commission approved two $12.50 court-cost surcharges to fund supplemental support for the district attorney and public defender and adopted multiple budget amendments, grants and equipment purchases; a separate motion to buy commission voting software failed.
The Benton County Commission voted on Dec. 15, 2025 to authorize two $12.50 charges on misdemeanor and felony court cost bills to provide supplemental funding for the district attorney and the public defender for the 24th judicial district. The measures, sponsored by County Mayor Mark Ward, passed by roll call 15 Ayes, 1 No (Commissioner Presson), with 2 commissioners absent.
Those two resolutions cited Tennessee statutes authorizing local legislative bodies to adopt such charges (T.C.A. § 40-3-106 for district attorneys and T.C.A. § 40-14-210 for public defenders). The county clerk will collect the surcharge through court cost bills and Benton County indicated the funds will remain available for the purposes described in the resolutions.
Beyond the court-cost surcharges, the commission approved a series of budget amendments and appropriations at the meeting in Camden. Actions included allocating an $8,000 Second Harvest Food Grant and $38,728.57 in insurance-recovery funds to school budgets; budgeting a $3,000 state cost‑sharing grant in the sheriff’s budget (for payment to Deputy Jasmine Allen); moving $30,000 to fund a newly hired investigator in the sheriff’s office; and appropriating grant and local‑match funds for Harbor Town Utility and consulting paid to Community Development Partners.
The commission also approved appropriations for airport needs (a $44,697.88 grant reimbursement and a separate $50,000 appropriation to cover an aviation fuel shortfall), a $600 donation allocation for the animal shelter, a $18,150 appropriation to buy four expandable ballistic shields for school resource officers, and a $6,000 one‑year subscription to the Placer AI service to assist the Benton County Chamber of Commerce and related tourism promotion efforts.
A number of routine housekeeping and administrative items were approved as well, including a lease for a copier/printer/scanner for the Clerk & Master’s office, a change authorizing the county trustee to round property tax amounts to the nearest dollar for the 2025 tax year, and a local update to the Budget Private Act of 1939, Chapter 541 (and a separate resolution urging the Tennessee General Assembly to enact the update).
Votes at a glance
- Resolution 20251215-01 (DA surcharge): Approved, roll call 15 Ayes, 1 No (Presson), 2 Absent. - Resolution 20251215-02 (Public Defender surcharge): Approved, roll call 15 Ayes, 1 No (Presson), 2 Absent. - Resolution 20251215-03 (Second Harvest Food Grant to schools): Approved, 16 Ayes, 0 No, 2 Absent. - Resolution 20251215-04 (Insurance recovery to schools): Approved, 16 Ayes, 0 No, 2 Absent. - Resolution 20251215-05 (State cost‑sharing grant to sheriff, amended): Approved, 16 Ayes, 0 No, 2 Absent. - Resolution 20251215-06 (Fund investigator position): Approved, 16 Ayes, 0 No, 2 Absent. - Resolution 20251215-07 and 20251215-08 (Private Act updates): Approved, 16 Ayes, 0 No, 2 Absent. - Resolution 20251215-09 through 20251215-14 (various budget appropriations, donations, TDEC‑ARPA grants and local matches): Approved, 16 Ayes, 0 No, 2 Absent (individual tallies noted in meeting minutes). - Resolution 20251215-16 (AI subscription for Chamber): Approved, 16 Ayes, 0 No, 2 Absent. - Resolution 20251215-17 (Ballistic shields): Approved, 16 Ayes, 0 No, 2 Absent. - Resolution 20251215-18 (ballpark site improvements): motion appears to have been presented but the segment indicates the action did not result in appropriation in this meeting record (see minutes for final disposition). - Resolution 20251215-19 (Victim’s Assistance Fee distribution to Carl Perkins Center and WRAP): Approved, 16 Ayes, 0 No, 2 Absent. - Resolution 20251215-20 and 20251215-21 (airport grant reimbursement and $50,000 appropriation for fuel): Approved, 16 Ayes, 0 No, 2 Absent.
Why it matters: The new $12.50 surcharges create a recurring local revenue stream designated for criminal justice offices in the 24th judicial district; the other budget moves allocate grant funds, cover a local airport shortfall and authorize equipment and services intended to support law enforcement, schools, tourism promotion and county operations.
Next steps: The failed or unresolved items (notably the county voting‑software purchase) will remain off the county’s expenditures until a future motion or committee action is taken. The county clerk will implement collection of any new court surcharges once administrative steps are completed.