Budget work awaits county officials

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

BENNETT

When the state of Tennessee finally settled on a compromise budget, spearheaded by Sen. Jerry Cooper and Rep. Charles Curtiss, it eased the minds of elected officials across the state. A number of county and city governments had held off on preparing their own budgets until they found out whether state funds – funds they have traditionally depended on to supplement local revenues – would be available to them for the 2002-2003 fiscal year.

Warren County officials were certainly among those who adopted a wait-and-see attitude when it came to budget preparation for the coming year.

There had been discussion about what kind of local tax increases it would have taken to cover lost state revenues, not a pleasant issue for any politician in an election year.

Technically the current fiscal year ended June 30 and the new one started July 1, so it would seem Warren County is already behind schedule, but that’s not actually the case.

Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Swanson Bennett explained the delay.

“As far as the budget is concerned,” Bennett said, “we passed a continuing budget which allowed us to get all the information from June that would be necessary before trying to pass a budget. So that should be ready anytime after the end of July and we’ll be able to go ahead with the budget.”

Still, there are some deadlines that must be met if the budget is to be ready for the Warren County Commission’s August meeting.

In a memo from Director of Accounts Linda Hillis given to the commissioners at their July meeting, the following dates were listed as being “of importance.”

• Today, July 31 – All budgets should be passed by committees and submitted to Hillis’ office to be compiled for consideration by the Budget and Finance Committee.

• Wednesday, Aug. 7 – Budget should be ready for printing by county audit.

• Tuesday, Aug. 13 – Budget must be submitted to newspaper for publication.

• Friday, Aug. 16 – Budget must be published in paper 10 days prior to vote.

• Monday, Aug. 26 – Full Warren County Commission meeting.