Robertson County adopts $78.3M budget, sets property tax at $2.61 after amendments

SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. — The Robertson County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 23 adopted fiscal year 2010–11 appropriations and set the county property tax rate at $2.61 per $100 of assessed valuation after a series of amendments to the proposed budget.

Commissioner Charles Swann introduced the appropriation resolution. Initial attempts to pass the package failed on a roll call, and commissioners debated several amendments before approving a final, amended budget.

The final package includes: elimination of three proposed part‑time positions (one each in Animal Control, Emergency Management and Maintenance); and a transfer of one cent from the school portion of the tax levy to the county general fund to pay a one‑time $500 bonus (described in the motion as $500 less payroll taxes, retirement match and workers’ compensation, yielding a gross figure stated in the motion as $425) to each county employee who has been employed at least six months, excluding highway department staff. Commissioner Adcock moved the bonus amendment and Commissioner Swearingen seconded. "Take one cent of the property tax rate from the school fund budget to give each county employee (exempting the highway department) a $500.00 (less county payroll taxes, retirement match and worker's compensation which equals a total gross amount of $425.00 for each employee) bonus," the motion stated as read into the record.

Commissioners cast recorded roll‑call votes on multiple amendments. The amendment to remove the three part‑time positions passed (recorded 18 Y – 3 N – 0 A – 3 absent in one recorded tally). The composite amendment combining elimination of the three part‑time positions, the one‑cent school transfer and the $500 bonus passed in a later recorded vote (11 Y – 10 N – 0 A – 3 absent), and a subsequent roll call reconfirmed passage of the bonus/transfer amendment with a separate tally (14 Y – 7 N – 0 A – 3 absent).

Separately, the commission approved Resolution 082310066 establishing the property tax levy for the fiscal year at $2.61 per $100 of assessed value, with the levy broken down as: general fund $0.94, sanitation $0.06, school $1.05 and debt service $0.56. That resolution and the final appropriation package were recorded as adopted for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010 and ending June 30, 2011.

Finance Director Jody Stewart and School Superintendent Dan Whitlow were made members of the commission for the meeting and answered commissioners’ questions about line items and implementation. The budget document presented a multi‑fund spending schedule, including a school fund total shown in the record and line‑item figures for general, sanitation, highway and debt service funds in the meeting packet.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 082310066 (property tax levy) — adopted; Resolution 082310067 (appropriations) — adopted as amended; amendment to remove three part‑time positions — adopted; amendment transferring .01 from the school tax to fund $500 bonuses — adopted. Recorded roll‑call tallies are included in the meeting minutes.

The board adjourned following the adoption and standard closing motions. The minutes record that the resolutions were "spread upon the minutes" and provide the detailed appropriation schedule adopted by the board.