Posted by Jim Young
on May 24, 2004

Members of the Crossville City council spent two hours in a work session on the 2004-2005 fiscal year budget and expect to pass the budget on third and final reading at their regular June council meeting.

Prior to the work session, council met in a brief special called meeting to handle several routine items and one not so routine. One resolution approved by city council was an objection to an action taken in a special called county commissioner meeting earlier this month.

City council’s resolution opposes an amendment that makes changes to the private act that formed the Plateau Regional Water Authority. The changes, including how members of the regional water authority board are appointed, were approved by a majority of Cumberland County Commissioners present at the called meeting earlier this month. City manager Jack Miller called the proposed changes “confusing” and that confusion lead to a split vote of the county commission over approving the amendment and requesting approval by the state legislature.

City council’s resolution included a statement that the private act’s amendment could put the proposed mergers between the city and Catoosa and the city and South Cumberland Utility district both in jeopardy. The city sees its merger efforts as the most realistic approach to a viable regional water authority.

“Our resolution states facts and brings questions to mind,” stated Crossville Mayor J. H. Graham. Following the resolution’s approval, copies of it were immediately faxed to area state legislators in Nashville.

City attorney Ken Chadwell also told council members that work was continuing on the draft consolidation agreements for the utility district and city mergers. Chadwell said that considering the size of the proposed deals, the progress on the agreements was excellent.

While much of the city’s budget was already finalized prior to last week’s work session, several items needed additional discussion by the council. Council members had previously met individually with city manager Jack Miller and some city department heads to discuss budget requests and council members’ concerns.

City manager Miller explained that while the city has received record revenue this year there has also been a record increase in costs and expenses. Miller added that he expects both to continue into the coming fiscal year.

Council members agreed to remove non-profit donations to Rural Cumberland Resources and Roane State Community College because of the large amount of undesignated fund balances listed in their audits. Ten percent was also cut from the donations of Hilltoppers and Kids Incorporated.

Budget constraints mean that requests for additional police and fire personnel will be deferred until a future time. Council did discuss working on a plan to increase starting salaries for police officers after learning that several city officers have left the police department for higher salaries at the sheriffs department. Council members expect to have this plan in place before the final approval of the budget expected to be June 8.

Council also discussed SRO police officers and discussed that Crossville would continue to fund an SRO at Cumberland County High School but with no funding from the school board to reimburse the city for an SRO at Martin, they would be unable to fund the additional SRO officer. The city will continue to provide an officer for the DARE program at Martin.

At their special called meeting, council approved all the matters on the agenda including third readings of two ordinances amending the city code on financial matters, an ordinance changing the name of Porcelain Stone to Porcelain Tile Drive and second reading an ordinance annexing 23.6 acres at the rear of Homestead Place.