Coffee County budget meeting approves school amendments, raises proposed pay increase to 3%

Coffee County’s Budget and Finance meeting on June 11 approved several school and county budget amendments and increased the proposed county employee pay raise to 3%, widening the advertised 2027 general fund shortfall.

Chairman Tim Morris convened the regular meeting. After roll call that showed Commissioners Morris, Malone, Brown, Hershman and Jones present (with Commissioners Nettles, Reed, Stubblefield and Chambers absent), commissioners moved through routine business including agenda and minutes approval.

On budget items, Commissioner Hershman moved and Commissioner Malone seconded approval of Amendment 141-2026-29, which the minutes describe as reflecting revisions to grants for student mental-health services and an increase in retirement for extra labor; the motion carried. Hershman also moved and Malone seconded Amendment 143-2026-2, which adds $150,000 for a summer feeding program; that motion also carried.

Commissioners then approved two amendments for other funds. Amendment 118-2026-27, described in the minutes as providing additional funds for ambulance personnel, passed on a motion by Commissioner Hershman seconded by Commissioner Malone. Amendment 101-2026-27, described as reprogramming actions for part-time personnel in the Register of Deeds office and Building Maintenance, passed on a motion by Commissioner Brown seconded by Commissioner Malone. The minutes do not specify dollar amounts for the ambulance or reprogramming amendments.

On the 2027 general fund budget discussion, a worksheet provided by Mariana Edinger reflected earlier changes that produced a $1,786,909 deficit. Commissioners debated the proposed pay-raise level (initially 2%) and Commissioner Malone moved, with Commissioner Jones seconding, to increase the raise to 3%. The motion carried. Minutes show the 3% raise adds $158,036 to projected personnel costs, bringing the 2027 deficit to $1,944,945. The minutes state the 3% increase will be allocated to department heads for disbursement based on employee performance appraisals, with emphasis on raising wages for lower-paid employees; resulting pay raises will be recorded and reported to the Mayor’s office.

The meeting concluded with no unfinished business; Commissioners set the next meeting for June 18, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., then adjourned.

Votes at a glance

- Approve agenda: moved by Commissioner Hershman; seconded by Commissioner Jones; outcome: approved (minutes state "motion carried"). - Approve previous minutes: moved by Commissioner Malone; seconded by Commissioner Hershman; outcome: approved. - Amendment 141-2026-29 (school grants/retirement for extra labor): moved by Commissioner Hershman; seconded by Commissioner Malone; outcome: approved. - Amendment 143-2026-2 (adds $150,000 for summer feeding program): moved by Commissioner Hershman; seconded by Commissioner Malone; outcome: approved. - Amendment 118-2026-27 (ambulance personnel addition funds): moved by Commissioner Hershman; seconded by Commissioner Malone; outcome: approved; amount not specified in minutes. - Amendment 101-2026-27 (reprogramming for part-time personnel in Register of Deeds and Building Maintenance): moved by Commissioner Brown; seconded by Commissioner Malone; outcome: approved; amount not specified in minutes. - Change pay-raise proposal from 2% to 3%: moved by Commissioner Malone; seconded by Commissioner Jones; outcome: approved; adds $158,036 to projected 2027 costs, bringing the deficit to $1,944,945.

The minutes do not record roll-call vote tallies for the motions; all recorded motions are noted as "motion carried." The minutes also do not specify dollar amounts for ambulance personnel or the reprogramming amendment.