In the Union County Commission meeting in June, commissioners approved all budgets that did not affect the tax rate. Fund 122, which contains no property tax revenue, passed first.
Next the commission approved Fund 127, which contains funding from federal monies in the American Rescue Plan Act to provide broadband and to improve some water and sewer systems.
The Highway Department Fund 131 had no local increase in funding, so commission passed that budget.
The school system has a Maintenance of Effort that requires $3.77M in Fund 141, and this amount received the approval of commissioners.
Also approved was Fund 142 which is funded through federal money. The Cafeteria Fund 143, Tennessee Virtual Academy Fund 145, and the Public School Capital Projects Fund 177 were all approved with no increase in property tax.
The County Capital Projects 171 and the County Industrial Fund 172 were approved with no increase to the property tax rate.
Commissioners discussed the County General Fund Budget but took no action.
Debt Service Fund 151 is where the funding for the new middle school will be located but that was not discussed. Fund 118 which is the ambulance service was discussed. Funding the solid waste payment for the future would cause a tax increase.
According to Finance Director Missy Brown, the County General Fund Budget 101 is now balanced by using the cuts recommended by the Budget Committee and by moving funds from one fund to another while still meeting the Maintenance of Effort Agreements.
In order to balance the General Fund 101, the commission would need to approve the following cuts as recommended by the budget committee:
In addition, $200,000 of the Occupancy Tax (Hotel/ Motel Tax) would be used to fund the match on the Farm Grant to complete the rest of the facilities at Heritage Park where the farmers market is located.
The Opry agreed to withdraw its request for $7,500. Perhaps the Opry does not need the funds since according to Commissioner Danny Cooke, the Opry has received several grants from South Arts, the East Tennessee Foundation and Tennessee Arts. Also the Opry will most likely benefit from the stage to be built in Heritage Park.
But other organizations funded through the Occupancy Tax (Hotel/ Motel Tax) and no property tax money received severe cuts in their funding with no grants to take up the slack.
The Heritage Festival, which is located in Wilson Park and is too big to ever benefit from relocating to Heritage Park will suffer a cut of $5,288. The Heritage Festival, which helps make Union County a tourist destination, requested the same funds it received last year but will receive a 71% cut in funds to $2,212 if the cuts remain.
Another group that deals with tourism and receives no property tax money is the Union County Museum that is managed by volunteers who are members of the Union County Historical Society (UCHS). These volunteers receive no pay. The Union County Historical Society requested $12,000 from the hotel/motel tax, an increase of $2,000 over its last year’s amount. But whatever improvements to the museum that UCHS had in mind will be put on hold because its funding will be reduced by 65% to $3,537.
Finally, the Union County Chamber of Commerce, which hosts Thunder in the Park, will deal with a 71 percent cut that may leave enough to hold this year’s fireworks and festival but have no funds for any other tourism projects.
According to Mayor Jason Bailey, the Occupancy Tax Fund has enough money to cover the match for the Farm Grant and the FY24 funding for the Heritage Festival, the Historical Society and the Chamber. The mayor also repeatedly reminded the commission that the 101 General Gund budget could not be balanced by cutting funding under the hotel/motel tax. So why are these cuts necessary if the funds do not affect the property tax? Perhaps future meetings will provide the answer.
Other nonprofits that received severe cuts were Imagination Library which provides free books monthly to all children in Union County who enroll. To enroll is free and most of the time is done at the hospital or by our local libraries on the website. At last report 800 children are enrolled.
The program cooperates with the Governor’s Books from Birth program which is now known as the Tennessee Early Literacy Program.
Children receive books from birth to their fifth birthday. The cost to the Imagination Union County is currently from $777 to $800 monthly. The 70% cut of $4,000 to $1179 may very well leave some children without a monthly book.
The Union County Little League and the Union County Cemetery Association received 70% cuts in funding from $5,000 to $1,421 and $2000 to $589 respectively.
The Commission has meetings planned for June 20, 25, and 29 if necessary to finish up the budget. Check our online newspaper to get the latest updates at www.historicunioncounty.com