Oakidge emergency communications board adopts FY2026 line-item amendment and approves FY2027 budget

The Oakidge Emergency Communications District board on Monday approved a net-zero amendment to its fiscal 2026 budget and unanimously adopted the district's fiscal 2027 line-item budget after a public hearing with no speakers.

Finance Director Carrie told the board the FY2026 change simply moves money among line items so the district meets Tennessee Code Annotated requirements for line-item adoption and to "pass the audit." She said contracted dispatcher services will be increased by $100,000 (from $200,000 to $300,000) and those funds will be reallocated from licenses and fees, Everbridge service fees, small equipment purchases, addressing/parring expenses, other communications, GIS and data-processing services; the amendment is net-zero and does not change the district's bottom line.

The board opened the required public hearing and, with no members of the public signing up to speak, closed it and voted on the measures. The clerk recorded a 5-0 vote in favor of the FY2026 amendment and a separate 5-0 vote adopting the FY2027 line-item budget.

Why it matters: the ECD budget must be adopted at the line-item level under state law; the change ensures the district's accounts match planned spending and supports the district's audit placement. The adoption of the FY2027 line-item budget permits the district to proceed with service contracts and operational plans tied to those line items.

Next steps: the district's FY2027 budget now serves as the operating template for the upcoming year. There were no public comments at the hearing. The city council moved on to the citywide budget later in the evening.