Haywood Co. benevolent fund still exists, but future is unclear
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HAYWOOD COUNTY, Tenn. — Commissioners in Haywood County said the future of a fund to help citizens in need is in jeopardy. “People think about being charitable with their blessing, and that comes up, and at the same time we want to be fiscally responsible,” said County Commissioner Richard Jameson. He said the program to help citizens is not gone. It is just on hold. The fund was frozen by commissioners this week after years of debate that County Mayor Franklin Smith spent more than what was in the budget. “This ‘benevolence fund,’ it turned into what we call the malevolence fund really in the last two years,” Jameson said. He said the future of this fund is not concrete. “Will a committee be formed? Will more money be appropriated? I can’t say,” Jameson said. According to Jameson, at the start of the fiscal year, which spans from July 1 to June 30, they budgeted $10,000 for the fund. By September, the fund had exceeded that by more than $16,000. Some taxpayers are concerned. Linda Goodman has lived in Haywood County for 40 years. She said the cost should not matter when doing the right thing is at stake. “I hate to see it go because a lot of people that need it, the help, they look forward to that,” Goodman said. “If they don’t have any way of paying anything, that’s what they have to do.” Jameson said citizens have a chance to voice their opinion by contacting their representatives. For now, the fund is still frozen. Jameson said a possible revival is not in the immediate future.
