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White County adopts FY2026 budget as amended, removes funding for Flock license‑plate readers
Summary
The White County full court approved a series of fiscal‑year amendments and passed the appropriations resolution after voting to strip a $47,856 line for Flock license‑plate readers from the budget; commissioners retained the certified tax rate at $1.41 despite proposals to cut it using an incoming $6 million landfill payment.
White County’s full court approved multiple fiscal‑year 2026 budget amendments and adopted the county appropriations resolution after removing a planned purchase of automated license‑plate readers.
The court voted to remove Section 15 — a $47,856 allocation listed for the purchase of license‑plate readers (LPRs) commonly marketed as “Flock” cameras — on a motion to amend that carried 8–3 with three absences. The amended fiscal package was then approved by the full court (11 yes, three absent). The chair explained the revised package reallocates those funds within the sheriff’s department budget rather than funding the LPR purchase directly.
Why it matters: The change responds to an extended public comment period in which dozens of residents raised privacy and civil‑liberty concerns, argued for hiring additional deputies instead of vendor systems, or pushed for alternative uses for the county’s incoming landfill revenue. The vote removes the single‑year capital authorization for the cameras; any future purchase would require a separate budget committee request and a majority vote of the full court.
Key elements approved: The court considered and approved a lengthy series of line‑item adjustments across funds — sanitation, drug control, highway, schools, general fund grants, fuel and medical supplements, and central cafeteria and federal project transfers. Notable allocations included a $281,000 internal reallocation for sheriff’s department personnel and $150,000 set aside for potential inmate medical claims. The package also included grant appropriations from Tennessee and USDA programs and small capital allocations (for example, $35,000 for Roland Sawmill site improvements and a $36,000 broadband readiness grant).
Tax rate and reserves: Commissioners debated whether to use an approximately $6 million payment tied to landfill operations to lower the certified tax rate. Multiple amendments to reduce the proposed $1.41 rate (to $1.01 and $1.21) failed by recorded votes (each amendment 3–8), and the court retained the $1.41 levy. County staff and the county executive said the $6 million payment arrived earlier than expected because permits were issued sooner; the executive characterized the funds as intermittent receipts related to landfill airspace/“success fee” sales rather than guaranteed recurring revenue.
Votes at a glance: Motion to remove Section 15 (LPR purchase) — passed 8 yes, 3 no, 3 absent. Adoption of the amended budget/appropriations resolution — passed (recorded; final tallies recorded in minutes). Multiple other amendments to appropriations and school and federal grant transfers passed on voice or recorded votes as listed in the minutes.
What’s next: Because the budget now lacks the LPR purchase authorization, the sheriff’s office would need to request new funding through the budget committee and a separate full‑court vote to reintroduce LPR procurement. The court set no immediate additional restrictions on county equipment already operated by city governments; city‑run systems were described as separate from county budgeting and procurement.
The meeting ended after consideration of other consent and special resolutions, including appointments, surpluses, and nonprofit appropriations; the full court adjourned following public comments on unrelated county matters.
