Committee rejects 2024-25 Highway Budget, seeks $1.2 million in cuts

Hawkins County Highway Superintendent Danny Jones has already made little more than half the spending cuts the commission’s Budget Committee is seeking before it will consider approving his 2024-25 budget.

The Highway Department operates on its own budget separate from the county General Fund.

On April 23 the Budget Committee voted 7-0 to reject the Jones’ proposed 2024-25 budget which asked for $1 million in additional spending, was $2.8 million in the red, and would have ended the next fiscal year with a negative fund balance.

According to county budget director Eric Buchanan, that budget as presented would be rejected by the Tennessee Comptroller.

Prior to the April 23 budget hearing Jones submitted a revised budget to Buchanan which reflected approximately $634,550 in cuts.

Buchanan told the committee, however that he wouldn’t be comfortable with a Highway Department budget with less than $1.2 million in either cuts or new revenue above Jones’ original proposed budget. Whether that $1.2 million is achieved through cuts or additional revenue, or a combination of both, is between Jones and the county commission, Buchanan noted.

On the advice of Buchanan the Budget Committee voted to reject Jones’ budget and ask him to return with a revised budget reflecting a minimum of $1.2 million in spending cuts from his original budget proposal.

Buchanan noted, that $1.2 million in cuts isn’t a permanent solution, and isn’t sustainable in the long run, but will get the department through the next fiscal year.

“The boat doesn’t sink but still taking on water,” Buchanan said.

Committee members agreed that Jones probably needs the funding he asked for to properly fund his department.

Commissioner Josh Gillian said if they can get the Highway Budget sustainable for 2024-25, maybe they can find the revenue Jones needs for next year.

The Budget Committee will review the second draft of the 2024-25 budget when it meets May 9 at 1:30 p.m.

A video of the committee’s discussion and vote to reject Jones’ budget can be seen in the online version of this article at www.the rogersvillereview.com.