Coffee County commissioners approve school and county budget amendments, accept $1.525 million insurance bid

Chairman Tim Morris opened the Coffee County Budget and Finance meeting at 4:00 p.m. on May 28, 2026. Commissioners Jones, Hershman, Morris, Netles, Chambers and Brown were present; Commissioners Reed, Stubblefield and Malone were absent.

The meeting’s business moved quickly through routine items. Commissioner Hershman moved to approve the agenda, and Commissioner Jones seconded; the motion carried. Hershman also moved to approve the previous minutes, seconded by Jones; that motion carried as well.

On formal actions, commissioners unanimously carried a series of budget amendments. They approved budget amendment 101-2026-25, described in the minutes as an increase in revenues paired with a decrease in appropriations (motion by Commissioner Hershman; second by Commissioner Brown). The board also approved several school budget items. Commissioners approved school budget amendment #143-2026-1 to move funds from fund balance for a serving line at the high school and for food purchases tied to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and the summer feeding program (motion by Commissioner Netles; second by Commissioner Jones). Additional school amendments numbered #141-2026-22 through #141-2026-28 were each approved on individual motions and seconds; the minutes list the mover and seconder for each and record that each motion carried. The minutes do not specify dollar amounts for these school amendments.

Under new business, the commission reviewed insurance bids for Coffee County property, general liability, law enforcement liability, cyber crime, ambulance service and workers’ compensation. The agent/broker listed in the minutes was Lester, Greene, McCord & Thoma, with John McCord identified as agent. Commissioners approved the listed bid, recorded in the minutes as totaling $1,525,006 (motion by Commissioner Brown; second by Commissioner Chambers).

Representatives from the trustee’s office, John Marchesoni, and Register of Deeds Donna Toney presented on the budget. According to the minutes, that discussion was continued to the next meeting for further consideration.

The board set its next Budget and Finance meeting for June 4 at 4:30 p.m. Commissioner Jones moved to adjourn; Commissioner Chambers seconded, and the meeting was adjourned. The minutes note that they were approved on June 4, 2026.

Votes at a glance: • Approve agenda — mover: Commissioner Hershman; seconder: Commissioner Jones; outcome: approved (SEG 007). • Approve minutes — mover: Commissioner Hershman; seconder: Commissioner Jones; outcome: approved (SEG 008). • Budget amendment 101-2026-25 — mover: Commissioner Hershman; seconder: Commissioner Brown; outcome: approved (SEG 010). • School amendment #143-2026-1 (serving line/CEP/summer feeding) — mover: Commissioner Netles; seconder: Commissioner Jones; outcome: approved (SEG 011). • School amendments #141-2026-22 through #141-2026-28 — each approved; movers and seconders listed in minutes (SEGs 012–019); dollar amounts not specified in the minutes. • Insurance bid (agent Lester, Greene, McCord & Thoma / agent John McCord) — total bid recorded as $1,525,006; mover: Commissioner Brown; seconder: Commissioner Chambers; outcome: approved (SEGs 020–022).

What the minutes do and do not show: The minutes record motions, movers, seconders and outcomes but do not provide roll-call vote tallies, individual vote names, or dollar amounts for the separate school amendments. The record also does not include direct quotations from presenters. The trustee’s office and Register of Deeds presented material that the commission deferred to the next meeting.

Next step: the Budget and Finance meeting reconvenes June 4 at 4:30 p.m. for follow-up on the trustee’s office and Register of Deeds presentations.