Minutes of Public Hearing for Giles County’s Budget 2023-2024
27 June 2023
Budget Chair Commissioner Erin Curry opened the meeting asking Commissioner Matt Rubelsky to offer a prayer and lead the pledge. The Chair then turned the meeting over to Beth Moore-Sumners Financial Manager (FM) for the county.
The FM gave a recap on rules, timing and requirements as defined in the Tennessee Code for County Financial Management System of 1981, specifically 5-21-111. One member of a non-profit attended prior to the meeting but the Chair provided her with the agenda for this meeting. At this time, the meeting does not address non-profits except for libraries and Fire and Rescue organizations. Given that information that attendee decided not to stay for this particular meeting. Other non-profits, per the Chair, will be discussed in an August meeting. No other attendees had requested to speak. Per the FM that concluded the public meeting. (At a later time a motion by Commissioner Terry Jones and seconded by Commissioner Evan Baddour to adjourn was made and was approved unanimously.)
While the meeting was informally adjourned, discussion on various subjects took place. For example, in keeping with providing the public with a voice in the budget proceedings, having rules specified for several meetings up to and including the full legislative meetings was discussed. Some positive comments on having several opportunities for the public to speak also noted that those same opportunities are helpful to the commissioners, allowing them time to research the information raised by speakers. While there were no speakers in this meeting from the public, the expectation is that the full legislative meeting held at “night” will have more public attendance. Discussion about allowing one speaker to use time yielded by another speaker was determined to be unacceptable with each speaker given a specific time, i.e. five minutes.
Another area of discussion centered around an unexpected increase in building insurance cost and the source of funding for that cost. (School costs will be considered separately and within the School budget.) Rather than having to advertise change to the proposed 2023-2024 budget, the FM recommended addressing this cost in the July timeframe as an amendment to the budget. She also noted this would not be paid until after the School Board meeting, and then the county committees for School and then Budget, and finally full legislative approval. The School and Budget committees meeting time is planned for 7 July 2023. (amended in 7 July meeting to show School meeting was postponed.)
Another area of discussion was how much funding would be rolled back into the general fund for the current budget year, with the FM noting she plans to have the number by Thursday, the next full legislative meeting.
Dr. Vickie Beard shared some information on the renovation of the school buildings.
As the meeting had been moved for adjournment as noted above, the meeting was closed.
ATTENDEES: Members of the Committee Chair Commissioner Erin Curry, Commissioners: Terry Jones, David Adams, Mathew Hopkins, Gayle Jones, Evan Baddour and Judy Pruett Other Commissioners in attendance: Shelly Goolsby, Dr. James Lathrop, Matt Rubelsky, Joyce Woodard, Annelle Guthrie, Roger Reedy, Joseph Sutton, Tim Risner, Tammy Mathus, David Wamble Other: County Executive Graham Stowe, Financial Management Director Beth Moore-Sumners, and Shana Woodard, Department School Superintendent Dr. Vickie Beard, School Board Chairman Knox Vanderpool and members of the public
