Disagreement Over Unlisted Funds Totaling 8 Million Dollars, Sullivan Commissioners Adjourn Without Passing Budget

Sullivan County Commissioners failed to approve a 207 million dollar budget Tuesday night after a riff over what the school system is going to do with more than eight million dollars unlisted in the budget, which school officials are calling one time expenditures. The commission was attempting approve the budget which has within it a nine cent property tax increase. That increase is projected to offset costs for teacher and staff raises, a new jail, and two new schools in the county. If approved, the tax rate would be set at two dollars and 40 cents per one hundred dollars of assessed value. Commissioners will discuss the budget again next week on July 8th in Blountville.