Fri
May 11 2007
12:42 pm
Knox County Budget Details
By: Mark Harmon

It appears Randy and I both are reviewing the budget. I am working line-by-line and this is a something of a midway report on the things that I must question further. By the way, it looks like I'll be one of the guests on this weekend's news analysis program on WATE.

The full budget files may be found at (link...)

Sec. C, p. 26. Why spend $130,200 on sheriff dept. auto allowance? None allocated in last budget. Sec. A, p. 41 has a $20,000 allowance for Mayor's office. Can we delete both and save $150,000?

Sec. C, p. 26. Why the ten-fold increase in fringe benefits?

Sec. B, p. 7. Why the increase in payment to the Tennessee Valley Fair, from $2000 to $16,000?

Sec. B, p. 6. Why $400,000 to the ChamberPartnership? Can't this be cut some or entirely? These guys could be weaned off some govt. dollars.

Sec. A. p. 50. Why the $2,385,000 increase in cost of the mayor's education summit?

Sec. A, p. 15. There's a jump in the county clerk office service contracts from just less than $400,000 to nearly $600,000. What justifies this?

I'm not ready to propose amendments, but will continue to explore, seeking answers to oddities. --Mark Harmon

Topics:
Ennui's picture

Please continue to

Submitted by Ennui on Fri, 2007/05/11 - 1:02pm.

Please continue to scrutinize this.

Pamela Treacy's picture

is there a summary document?

Submitted by Pamela Treacy on Fri, 2007/05/11 - 3:23pm.

In my corporate experience any line item that increased more than the "agreed" percentage (CPI type index) had a single line explanation. MOst of the time that clarified a situation. But if the review committee wanted more information, they would ask in budget review meetings.

Do I understand that you have to ask about each and every increase instead of it being provided as part of the budget request?

Pamela Treacy

Nelle's picture

Welfare reform

Submitted by Nelle on Sat, 2007/05/12 - 3:31pm.

Why $400,000 to the ChamberPartnership indeed?

I believe opposition to this government largess could appropriately be dubbed "welfare reform."

S Carpenter's picture

Why $400,000 to the ChamberPartnership

Submitted by S Carpenter on Sat, 2007/05/12 - 3:35pm.

Is that the JobsNowTM payment?

Ennui's picture

Commissioner Harmon, I was

Submitted by Ennui on Mon, 2007/05/14 - 1:42pm.

Commissioner Harmon, I was most pleased with your appearance on Gene Patterson's TTW. I am concerned about empire building in the KCSD as well, and I almost choked when hearing about the Chamber Partnership's continued fleecing of our monies. Keep up the good fight.

knoxvegas99's picture

Knox County Budget - KCSD

Submitted by knoxvegas99 on Mon, 2007/05/14 - 2:15pm.

The fringe benefit increase stems from the consolidation of salary expenses from 20+ departments to three in the proposed budget.

Larry Van Guilder

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