Blount County’s latest budget proposal could trigger base pay increases for new teachers in county schools and support projects ranging from high school roof replacement to the purchase of new police rifles.
But Blount’s next budget might also share some major traits with this year’s. The county’s operational spending will stay largely level in the fiscal year that starts July 1 if the current, $274.5 million net budget recommendation survives an upcoming vote from the Blount board of commissioners. A push for $50,000 starting salaries for teachers in Blount County Schools represent one of the starkest changes from the current year’s budget. And the county property tax rate — $1.59 per $100 of assessed value — will remain the same for a second year if commissioners also during their next meeting adopt a tax rate resolution from Blount County’s five-member budget committee.
The new budget reflects the government’s general philosophy, county Mayor Ed Mitchell said in a May meeting. The county can achieve its goals “if we continue to be frugal and conservative in our decisions,” Mitchell commented then.
On second reading and without debate, the Blount County Budget Committee Monday, June 10, forwarded its recommendation to the county board of commissioners. The budget meeting followed immediately from a public budget hearing at which no member of the public spoke.
Commissioners the next day, June 11, sent both proposals, along with a resolution outlining capital outlay priorities, on to final votes scheduled for June 21.
Pay
The Monday and Tuesday meetings provided a contrast with budget debates in 2023, when a county-wide appraisal showed spiking residential home prices and triggered major public debates about the tax rate. The county withdrew an initial proposal to raise property taxes last year, ultimately adopting the $1.59 rate.
At the same time, commissioners also raised Blount County Sheriff’s deputies’ pay by an average of 19% and cut to 55 cents the portion of tax going to schools’ operating budgets. The schools’ portion was 10 cents smaller than staff of the area school districts, and their boards, anticipated when drafting their budgets.
This year’s proposal would move one penny from the county’s debt service into education and capitalize on an increase in projected sales tax revenue — which in May sat about 5.2% above last year’s — to support a $50,000 starting salary for new teachers in Blount County Schools. BCS’ current starting salary for teachers with four-year degrees is $42,865.
The move would put the district years ahead of a state requirement that teachers with bachelor’s degrees, but no experience, be paid a minimum of $50,000 by the 2026 school year.
The county’s recommendation for its general purpose school fund is lower than the budget adopted by the Blount County Board of Education earlier this year. The proposal “allows for the board of education to go back and look at what are some different options for compensation,” county Director of Accounts and Budgets Brian Baldwin said during a May budget meeting.
The county’s proposal would provide each classroom teacher with a raise.
“There are some tools there that can get teachers to $50,000,” Baldwin said. The school board will meet to address next year’s budget June 25.
Between one step increase and a cost of living adjustment, the county government will also offer its general employees a raise of about 4.2%, a year after the county adopted a compensation study aimed at making the government a more competitive employer. As the county faces two further elections this year, those who work the polls in some local races could see their pay increase as well.
Upcoming projects
Beyond wage and salary shifts, priorities for the next year in Blount County also include renovations to the buildings in which teachers and students will work and study.
A resolution laying out the county’s capital outlay priorities for the next fiscal year divides those priorities into four parts. Some projects have been funded, and will remain so until they are complete, like a $233,310 security upgrade of the county’s jail and juvenile facilities. Others have been made into priorities, but are “not yet supported by current funding levels,” according to the resolution — a $4.9 million expansion of the Blount County Animal Center is one example — and some need to be prioritized.
Some projects are new and will require funding in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The replacement or repair of William Blount High School’s roof is one such project; renovation of Heritage High School classrooms is another.
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