Excerpts from Aug 4 public hearing

DUNLAP, Tenn. — Sequatchie County’s budget on Monday was sent back for more study and input on ways to avoid a proposed 25 cent tax increase.

About 20 of 100 residents who turned out for a public hearing on the 2008-09 budget called for explanations, alternatives and more openness in the budget process.

“Why hold this meeting?” resident Charli Wyatt said.

Ms. Wyatt said she couldn’t get a copy of the budget proposal before the meeting because there were no copies for the public.

“I would really like to tell you some intelligent comments about the budget and tell you what I think about the tax increase, but I don’t know anything about the tax increase,” Ms. Wyatt said.

Ms. Wyatt was among several who asked for more information and criticized officials for not publicizing the budget before the hearing.

Budget Committee Chairman Paul Powell last week said the county is facing a $400,000 budget shortfall.

Residents suggested raising the local sales tax, cutting services and going after delinquent property taxes.

Mike Byington dramatically unrolled a list of delinquent taxpayers as he called for aggressive action to collect $400,000 owed to the county.

Mr. Byington said he talked to a business owner who was late on his taxes to “thank them for my property tax going up.”

“I heard words that I had not heard since I was captain in the 101st Airborne Division,” he said.

Mike Reeves said commissioners should keep tabs on county departments to “see what’s going on before they ask the people of Sequatchie County to pay 25 cents more out of their pocket.”

Penny wardlow said she gathered figures showing the sheriff’s department was 26 percent over budget and the jail 13 percent over. The health department spent $17,000 in a $1,600 budget line for supplies and materials, she said.

“Our problem as the public is we don’t know why,” Ms. Wardlow said.

She said it seemed commissioners have no more information than the public.

Sheriff Ronnie Hitchcock said inmate medical costs, employee overtime and benefits pushed up costs. He said large increases in police calls and arrests put his labor costs over budget.

“But I’m going to try to trim our department any that I can,” he said.

Commissioner Monty Long handed out a list of alternatives to a tax hike before the meeting and several residents said the ideas should be studied.

Mr. Long said the county could sell bonds, apply for loans and grants, collect delinquent property taxes, sell county property and consolidate operations.

“I know that some of the above suggestions are not going to be received well,” Mr. Long wrote in remarks at the end of the list. “I ask you to consider them with an open mind and without emotional bias.”

The crowd applauded the commission’s vote to send the budget back for more study. The budget committee meets Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. CDT.

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