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Blount County commissioners approve pay increase amid sharp disagreement
Summary
The commission adopted Resolution 26-06014 changing commissioner compensation after heated debate; the motion passed 12–6 with one abstention. Opponents said the 200% increase should have been handled through the budget process; supporters called the raise overdue.
The Blount County Commission voted on June 18 to adopt Resolution 26-06014, which adjusts compensation for county commissioners.
Commissioner Giles, a speaker both supporting and later describing community concerns, applauded budget steps the commission has taken but said he struggled to justify the size and timing of a near-200% pay increase. “It blows my mind that we're looking at adding almost a 200% increase to our salaries,” Giles said during debate.
Opponents emphasized process and timing. Commissioner Wells described the increase as “egregious” and said the county should have considered a smaller raise or tied compensation to attendance or performance. Wells noted the proposed change would draw on fund balance and highlighted other unmet budget requests the commission declined this year.
Supporters, including Commissioner French and Commissioner Michaels, argued commissioners deserve higher pay and pointed to the long interval since the last adjustment. “These people up here deserve a raise,” French said, noting that the current stipend had not been updated for decades. Michaels urged the body to pay commissioners competitively to attract candidates.
The clerk recorded 12 yes votes, 6 no votes and 1 abstention; the motion carried and Resolution 26-06014 was adopted. Commissioners discussed potential follow-up mechanisms such as tying future adjustments to the budget process or forming an ad hoc committee to recommend a compensation structure.
The resolution’s effective date and implementation details will be handled through the county’s finance office and budget process; commissioners said they expect forthcoming administrative steps to integrate the change into next year’s budget.
