BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
9 AUGUST 2024
Chair Commissioner Erin Curry opened the meeting asking Commissioner Mathew Rubelsky to offer a prayer and lead the pledge. The minutes of 8 Jul had not been posted or received and potential approval would wait under September, per the Chair. She then asked if the County Executive (CE) Graham Stowe had any announcements, and he replied none. A School Committee meeting was planned prior to the budget committee meeting but nothing arose to the level of requiring budgetary review; School Committee Shelly Goolsby was invited to speak however. She discussed the highs and lows of the schools at this time, mentioning in particular Ms. Carmen Hayes, Southside Elementary School, who has been recognized as a finalist for 2024-25 Tennessee Principal of the Year. Former Road Superintendent Barry Hyatt introduced Gene Barnickle as the newly elected Road Superintendent, and also took this time to thank all the support from the commissioners and the county staff. Mr. Carmen Brown was also introduced as the newest elected commissioner and will be sworn in early September.
The Chair mentioned a change in agenda items, with budget amendments being addressed next. She then outlined the process for the non-profit requests for afterwards. Financial Manager (FM) Ms. Beth Moore-Sumners said the “books” have been closed on the 2023-2024 budget year. She will provide a spread sheet in September for more detail. Since an earlier question had addressed the funding for SROs, she noted that the state’s late guidance had been trying. She further stated that the county did meet the state’s final guidance in identifying spending for 10 SROs in the schools, with one additional SRO being added in Richland. That means one SRO is in each school, however, there is not an SRO in the central office. All expenditures were carefully identified and allotted to these funds, ensuring no funds were unnecessarily returned to state.
The FM then addressed the handouts provided on the Highway Fund 131 and the County General Fund 101. The Highway Fund showed no increase in funding, and showed movement from the Administration line items (LI) to the Highway Bridge Maintenance LI. A motion by Commissioner Terry Jones, seconded by Commissioner Matthew Hopkins, to approve was made, and after the Chair asking if there were any public comments (none), or discussion, the motion was approved unanimously. Re the County General Fund amendment which put two grants back into the 2024-2025 budget – the Ag Park FEMA HMPG Community Safe Room Grant and the Food Insecurity Grant – both of which were approved in previous years. A motion to approve was made by Commissioner Matthew Hopkins, seconded by Commissioner Judy Pruett, and with no public comments, the motion was approved unanimously.
The Non-Profit organizations requesting funding are: Chamber of Tourism & Commerce, Child Development Center, Decision, Choices, and Options, Giles County Veterans Alliance, Kid’s Place, New Canaan Ranch and Senior Citizens for a total request of $69,700. Per the Chair each representative of the Non-profit was allowed three minutes to provide any additional information or expand on the information provided in their proposal. Chamber representative Jessie Parker gave additional information happening after their proposal was provided. She mentioned the Sundrop festival, the ARP funds which will be voided if the Chamber doesn’t keep their budget consistent, $26M being spent by tourists in Giles County, and the international acclaim of the recent Resurrection of Valor bronze statue of the Colored Troops. She also mentioned they will be doing tourism workshops for businesses to help them attract more tourism, and those workshops will be announced on the radio and in the Citizen paper. The Chair said questions could be asked at the end of all the presentations, but given so much interest, and support, questions were allowed after each.
Child Development Center Representative Anita Teague spoke of making a difference in Children’s lives by doing intervention for 39 children in Giles County who are developmentally challenged. Children ages are from birth to kindergarten and there is no income requirement.
Decision, Choices, Options representative Suzanne Geerholt discussed her organization that offers sexual risk avoidance prevention education programs and mentioned that State Rep Clay Doggett had been instrumental in obtaining $150K for the Middle Tennessee youth’s participation in the program. She noted as a result of the programs there has been a significant decrease in teen pregnancies, with county support the schools more willing to include their programing, and they had received grant funding because they could show county support. Commissioner Terry Jones said next year that the schools should consider placing this request/funding within the school budget. The extra funding from state was used to hire an additional educator, cost $10K.
Veterans Alliance Representative David Bailey stated that the medical services they provide to veterans results in 95% of their funding coming from the public. Their biggest expense he said is the vans since they are required to transport the veterans mostly to doctor appointments. He mentioned their fund-raising activities and that there are approximately 1700 veterans currently living in Giles County.
Kid’s place representative Charlsi Legendre discussed their mission, helping children and families who have been impacted by sexual and severe forms of child abuse. They work with the District Attorney General, law enforcement agencies, Children’s Services and local city and county agencies as well as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and Homeland Security. The numbers of children continue to increase needing their services with 101 last year and already with 60 this year. She discussed a new trend of children sexual exploitation where the cell phones of children are targeted. Commissioner Terry Jones suggested this funding should come from the Sheriff’s budget next year and the CE said some of their grants depend on county support.
At this time the FM was asked to give an update on the county’s funds derived from court fines from drug usage charges. She said from last year there was $6800 in the alcohol/drug funds, but so far this year they have collected only $99 in fines. The New Canaan representative Wes Chiles said they had lost their home (through fire) and could only serve 6 – 8 men on the average, where before they served approximately 20 -25 men. Due to some insurance covering some of the fire damage they now have $210K but that is not sufficient to build back big enough and to last. The funding request had increased from $6.8K to $10.5K and would be used for day-to-day expenses (not for the building). When asked if the men were all from outside Giles County, Mr. Chiles said yes, but he also gave the reasoning why. For drug users to stay within their own county so often results in relapse due to other drug users’ pressure. So, they move to nearby counties. Commissioner Evan Baddour mentioned the opioid abatement and if would apply. The CE said that it would apply to any drugs and the county will soon be publicizing how organizations can apply. The FM said some of the counties “have jumped the gun” and there are no clear guidelines just yet. Mr. Chiles did say that the funding given from insurance is invested and brings in about $10k annually.
Senior Center Representatives Janice Tucker and Jim Gerlach spoke on the different health issues of the seniors that come regularly to the Center, the loss of the rental income when SCATS separated from the Center’s location, the partnerships developed between the Center and other organizations, and the meals on wheels for those outside the Center. She mentioned these seniors are the ones who have worked in this county, paid their taxes, and now want to live a life of dignity as they age. Mr. Gerlach mentioned they had been able to remove $65K from their budget by doing such things as changing insurance vendors, using local hires, when possible, for repairs/modifications, and doing own bookkeeping. Commissioner David Adams asked about eating at the Center and Mr. Gerlach said you only need to let us know the day before (food comes from out-of-town), and provide some information for health purposes. Commissioner Terry Jones noted that if the Center loses county funding, they will also lose state money (SCTDD).
After the above discussions the Chair asked for a motion. A motion to approve all as requested, $69.7K, was made by Commissioner Evan Baddour, and seconded by Commissioner Judy Pruett. Discussion following motion addressed pulling New Canaan out separately, pull all out and vote separately (motion by Commissioner Terry Jones, seconded by Commissioner Matthew Hopkins, passed 4 to 3 with Commissioners Judy Pruett, Evan Baddour, and Erin Curry voting no). The FM gave an update on the general fund, noting some of that would be transferred into capital projects for areas such as courthouse repairs. She noted there is about $9M in the general fund, not counting reserves. A motion by Matthew Hopkins, seconded by Commissioner Gayle Jones, was to postpone a decision on New Canaan until more information is available on the opioid funds. Commissioner David Adams made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Judy Pruett, to fund all at same level as last year, $61K. All of the discussions were caveated by the FM as to the requirement to advertise the potential non-profit funding, so she encouraged careful consideration for the final voting. Commissioner Roger Reedy said you are basically making the decision for the full commission and it’s just another $5K more. A motion by Commissioner Evan Baddour, to amend a previous motion, was made to fund all as requested with postponing the decision on New Canaan, and Commissioner Judy Pruett seconded, for $59.5K. With role call vote the motion passed 5 – 2, with Commissioners David Adams and Matthew Hopkins voting no. Commissioner Erin Curry noted this benefits our tax payers. The FM provided an idea for the following budget year on funding non-profits, with a certain amount set aside for the total.
Unfinished business – Commissioner Matthew Hopkins asked about making more frequent payments on the school bond, and the FM provided clarification after checking with others that you can’t pay out early but the interest can go into the debt service and can be used to pay at the end of the bonds term limit. Commissioner Gayle Jones asked about an earlier issue of the HVAC at the jail, and the CE said he believed the Sheriff’s Department was in the process of hiring a mechanical engineer to develop specifications. For now, the FM said the system is working after some basic repairs.
With no new business Commissioner Matthew Hopkins moved for adjournment and with Commissioner Gayle Jones providing the second, the motion was approved unanimously.
ATTENDEES: Members of the Budget Committee – Chair Erin Curry, Commissioners Judy Pruett, David Adams, Gayle Jones, Matthew Hopkins, Terry Jones, Rose Brown Other commissioners in attendance Shelly Goolsby, Joyce Woodard, Matt Rubelsky, Dr. James Lathrop, Annelle Guthrie, Tim Risner, Evan Baddour, Roger Reedy Other – County Executive Graham Stowe, Financial Manager Beth Moore-Sumners, Shana Woodard, newly elected Road Superintendent Gene Barnickle, and Barry Hyatt, newly elected Commissioner Carmen Brown and members of the non-profit organizations
