Tellico Plains usually passes its budget with little fanfare, or public input, but when the mayor and board of aldermen voted on whether to pass it Thursday night (three months late and with no prior discussion) new Alderman Larry Harris asked exactly how the budget was put together.
"I'm not trying to be argumentative," Harris said, "but I'd like to know what goes into putting this budget together and how it's decided who gets what."

Mayor Roger Powers said the budget is annually put together with the help of MTAS, a state agency that assists municipalities in various areas.
"They help us put everything together and make sure it's all above board," Powers said.
"They also always tell us we need to raise property taxes, but we're holding off on that as long as we can. I know a lot of equipment is beat up and old, but it's still cheaper to fix it up than buy new stuff."

Alderman Harkey Yates, who has been on the board for nearly two decades, said, "The budget for this town hardly ever changes. You have cost of living increases, but that's about it."
The 2009-10 proposed budget is $1,144,501, a slight increase over the previous year. The town's revenue is expected to be $1,144,707, giving the town just a couple hundred dollars for any unseen emergencies that might arise.

"It's not much wiggle room," Powers said. "We'd better hope nothing unexpected happens."
The budget includes a 25-cent per hour raise for town employees. New alderman Jamie Sisson said he was concerned that police officer Neil Denham was making 75 cents less per hour than other part-time officers.

"He's just as much in danger of getting shot as the other officers," Sisson said.
"He hasn't been through the police academy like the other officers," Powers explained. "The other officers make more because they have been."
Alderwoman Kim Bolix said she also noticed that City Hall clerks make more than the police officers do.

"I know the clerks work hard," Bolix said, "but the officers are putting their lives on the line every day."
Powers pointed out the budget wasn't set in stone, saying, "Anyone who wants to make a motion concerning pay is welcome to."
Sisson made a motion to increase Denham's pay by 75 cents an hour, but the motion failed for lack of a second.

While most of the aldermen wanted to take the budget home and read it over, they voted to pass it on first reading, knowing they could make any changes if they wished before the second reading in November.

Sunday beer sales vote tabled
The board tabled a request from Scott Shankle, owner of the Valley Mart BP Station (locally known as "The Pride") to sell beer on Sundays after no one from the business appeared at the meeting.
"Beer is now sold on Sundays in the county after Sweetwater passed liquor by the drink," Powers said. "And there are some businesses just outside the town limits that are selling beer on Sundays. We would get the tax revenue from this, obviously, and it would probably help his store."

"That is a lot of tax money," Yates agreed. "I'd say we should do it, but Scott, or somebody from his company does need to be here."
Powers pointed out there would be other businesses in the town that would be able to sell beer on Sundays.

Christmas parade date set
The board also voted to hold the town's annual Christmas Parade on Dec. 19 at 3 p.m.

michael.thomason@advocateanddemocrat.com | 442-4575