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Macon County Board of Commissioners approves $63.7 million budget with changes, raises Franklin fire tax to 7¢
Summary
The Macon County Board of Commissioners approved the recommended FY2024–25 general fund budget of $63,704,651 on a 3–2 vote, agreeing to several amendments including one Environmental Health position, funding for coaching stipends, and a 7¢ fire tax increase for the Franklin Fire District.
The Macon County Board of Commissioners approved the county's recommended FY2024–25 budget, adopting a $63,704,651 general fund ordinance after debating program changes and local tax allocations.
Finance Director Lori Carpenter told the board that the recommended general fund remained $63,704,651 but reflected several adjustments discussed at Monday's meeting. "The recommended general fund budget remains at $63,704,651," she said, and read changes into the record that included eliminating one Environmental Health position while adding a Code Enforcement Officer and athletic supplements.
After public comment during the budget hearing, board members debated a slate of items. Commissioners voted 3–2 to approve the budget ordinance, with Chairman Gary Shields, Commissioner Chris Young and Commissioner Antoine voting in favor and Commissioners Higdon and Shearl opposed.
Key changes adopted by the board included:
- Staffing and positions: The board agreed to fund one Environmental Health position now, hold hiring until at least January 2025 for the second position, and move the second position and associated vehicle funding to Code Enforcement. County staff will bring a budget amendment on July 9 to formalize the transfer, Finance Director Lori Carpenter said.
- Senior Services: The board agreed by a 3–2 consensus to move $200,000 from the Senior Services budget into General Fund contingency and to use part of that to complete immediate ADA improvements at the senior center while gathering additional information on longer-term needs.
- Coaching stipends: Commissioners approved moving $31,720 from fund balance to increase coaching stipends for Macon County Schools; Carpenter said she will prepare a July 9 budget amendment to enact this change.
- Franklin Fire District millage: Commissioners voted 3–2 to increase the Franklin Fire District special-fire tax to seven cents. Franklin Fire Captain Ben Ormond and Town Manager Amie Owens told the board the request would restore the millage rate the town had two years ago and support local fire services.
County Manager Derek Roland and staff said other elements of the recommended budget would remain in place and any final transfers or amendments would be handled at the July meeting where needed. The board recessed at 8:19 p.m. and reconvened at 8:31 p.m.; the budget vote occurred prior to that recess.
The board approved the budget ordinance as read into the record and instructed staff to prepare any required amendments for the July 9 regular meeting. No additional action altering the adopted total general fund amount was recorded.
