Finance committee advances SRO grant application and forwards two private acts to full commission

HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. — The Hamblen County Finance Committee on June 15 approved the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office application for a statewide School Resource Officer (SRO) program grant worth $1,350,000 and voted to forward two private acts to the full commission for ratification.

The committee approved a resolution authorizing the sheriff’s office to apply for the SRO grant. Sheriff Mullins said the application was for approval to apply and did not itself obligate the county. Commissioners clarified the grant’s parameters: the county has historically received approximately $75,000 per SRO and the funds may be applied to officer salaries and equipment. “That is what pays their salaries. That’s what helped buy their cars, their equipment, their weapons,” a county staffer, Chad, said during a committee exchange.

The committee also advanced two private acts to the full commission. One amends private chapter number 57 (House Bill 2640 / Senate Bill 2705 of the 114th General Assembly) to abolish the county road commission effective Aug. 31, 2028. Mayor Cutshaw told commissioners the proposal originated with the road commission itself and noted the full commission will need a two-thirds vote to ratify the state action. The committee approved sending the measure on.

A second private act (House Bill 6242 / Senate Bill 2703) would formalize the county attorney election timing and set an annual retainer of $1,200 (described by the mayor as roughly $100 per month) with additional compensation for work performed. Some commissioners and public commenters voiced concern about adding expense amid a budget shortfall; Miss Green said the added cost would “put an undue burden on our taxpayers.” The committee approved forwarding the change to the full commission.

The finance committee also reviewed an RFP process to renew the county banking contract and expects to present a recommended bank at the next meeting after bids are opened later this week.

What’s next: Both private acts will be considered by the full Hamblen County Commission; the mayor and staff noted the ratification vote requiring a two-thirds majority will be on the next commission calendar (committee members said that meeting would occur on June 25). The SRO application approval allows staff to file for the grant; any award would be subject to later acceptance and appropriation by the commission.

Reporting notes: The committee recorded that motions carried but the transcript did not include a published roll-call tally for these votes.