Obion County Commission approves fiscal year budget

OBION COUNTY, Tenn. — The Obion County Commission held their monthly meeting Monday morning.

There were various items on the agenda, however passing the next fiscal year budget was the main priority. Sam Sinclair, the budget chairman, told us what they focus on.

“Working with the department heads and approving their budgets, or sending them back to work on their budgets, it is most important that they have a balanced budget when it comes back to us,” Sinclair said. “A budget having more money going out than coming in is not a good thing.”

Sinclair tells us that there were not really any talks about a potential property tax increase. The rate is staying the same. He also told us about $12 million dollars that they have set back and how they use it.

“We are one of the few counties in the state that are actually debt free,” Sinclair said. “We can utilize that money, it is a reserve fund, instead of paying interest to a bank or another entity, we loan the money to ourselves and pay it back with interest.”

The commissioners unanimously approved the budget. The council also agreed to send a resolution letter to state officials regarding mowing along state roads. This was brought up by Commissioner Danny Jowers, who claims it is getting dangerous.

“Something’s going to happen one way or another. If it gets to the point where we’re having to protect the citizens of Obion County, which is the County Commissions responsibility,” Jowers said. “Either mow it and send the state a bill, whatever we need to do to get this thing resolved.”

The commissioners unanimously agreed to send the letter. It is being drafted by the county attorney.

In their balanced budget, the county was able to afford the state mandated 3% salary raise for elected officials, as well as a $2,000 raise for county employees.

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