Carter County commissioners approve package of budget amendments, grants and donations

The Carter County Board of Commissioners on June 15 approved a bundle of budget amendments, contracts and donations that the board’s budget and financial committees said are needed for year‑end adjustments and capital projects.

The board approved a string of budget amendments covering county operations, school funds and capital projects, including: a General Purpose School Fund amendment of $3,132,786.11; a Helene Bond Fund amendment of $3,763,943.17 (with $1,837,480.17 from bond proceeds); an ARP fund transfer of $948,548.02 (including funds to support White Rocks Tower access road improvements); and a Solid Waste Fund amendment of $774,716.12 (with $515,376.12 from the Solid Waste Fund balance). The meeting packet and motions also included several smaller payments, transfers and year‑end reallocations.

The board also approved a Fiscal Year 27 grant contract between the Tennessee Department of Health and Carter County for $933,636 to support local health services, and approved a contract with East Tennessee State University for forensic pathology consulting services.

Votes at a glance

- Payment to Schaus Professional Services (Invoice #G52226), $700.00 — moved Julie Guinn, carried (recorded abstain: Carole Whaley). (SEG 042–046) - Payment to Schaus Professional Services (Invoice #525026), $27,524.90 — moved Julie Guinn, carried (recorded No: Donnie Cable; recorded abstain: Carole Whaley). (SEG 047–052) - Transfer EMA GovDeals proceeds to reserve, $23,792.22 — moved Julie Guinn, carried. (SEG 053–060) - Acknowledge audited fund balances as FY26 beginning balances — moved Julie Guinn, carried. (SEG 061–064) - County Fund Budget Amendment 101‑12, $241,985 (items 1–16) — moved Julie Guinn, carried (from reserves $178,200). (SEG 065–068) - County Fund Budget Amendment 101‑12B, $615,394.93 (items 1–8) — moved Julie Guinn, carried (from reserves $19,618.93). (SEG 069–072) - Solid Waste Fund Budget Amendment 116‑9, $774,716.12 — moved Julie Guinn, carried (from Solid Waste Fund Balance $515,376.12). (SEG 073–078) - ARP Fund Budget Amendment 127‑6, $948,548.02 — moved Julie Guinn, carried (from ARP reserves $500,580). (SEG 079–082) - Highway Fund Budget Amendment 131‑9, $84,000 — moved Julie Guinn, carried. (SEG 083–086) - General Purpose School Fund Budget Amendment 141‑11, $3,132,786.11 — moved Julie Guinn, carried (from reserves $750,000). (SEG 087–091) - School Federal Projects Fund Budget Amendment 142‑8, $90,965.84 — moved Julie Guinn, carried. (SEG 092–095) - Head Start Fund Budget Amendment 145‑4, $36,553.71 — moved Julie Guinn, carried. (SEG 096–099) - Education Capital Project Fund Budget Amendment 177‑5 — moved and carried; transcript contains a numeric inconsistency (see clarifying details). Board packet and amendment detail show $1,835,578.59; that figure is reported here as corrected. (SEG 100–103) - Helene Bond Fund Budget Amendment 180‑8, $3,763,943.17 — moved Julie Guinn, carried (Helene proceeds $1,837,480.17). (SEG 104–111) - Animal Shelter monetary donations $28,376.00 and non‑monetary donations $200.00 — motions carried. (SEG 112–119) - Fiscal Year 27 Grant Contract (State Dept. of Health) $933,636.00 — moved Aaron Frazier, carried. (SEG 120–123) - Employee handbook updates (bereavement leave and medical insurance edits) — motions carried. (SEG 124–133) - ETSU forensic pathology consulting contract — moved Aaron Frazier, carried. (SEG 138–141)

What happens next

Several items at the meeting require follow‑up by staff: implementation of approved budget amendments, processing of contract documents for ETSU and the state health grant, and administrative steps to move ARP funds for the White Rocks Tower access road improvements. The meeting packet includes the specific amendment and contract documents referenced during the votes.

The board adjourned at 8:15 PM.