The Greene County Budget and Finance Committee voted to have the Greene County Association Of Volunteer Fire Departments reach out to local Volunteer Fire Departments that have been noncompliant. Since the association has to report to the committee, Greene County Sheriff Wesley Holt on behalf of Chief Ryan Holt had to report that one fire department has not been compliant.
Holt said most of the fire departments have been complying but noted one department has not. The VFD hasn’t turned in financial statements and has no Treasurer. Another department had several findings on their audit. Sheriff Holt, who is Treasurer of the association, said they can’t take any action on the matter and could only report it to the committee. The association receives $325,000 from the Greene County Budget and covers the VFD’s insurance costs and also distributes funds to VFD’s from the wheel tax. Holt didn’t want to call out the fire departments but just wanted the issues to get taken care of so they are compliant.
County Attorney Roger Woolsey suggested mailing a certified letter to the departments advising of a 90-day suspension of funds. If they are still noncompliant after 90 days their insurance will also be terminated. This does not mean the departments won’t be able to operate and help in the community but they would be operating their fire trucks or whatever else is covered by the association with no insurance.
The Budget and Finance Committee also reviewed recommendations from the Budget Workshop last week and approved several end of year amendments. They approved the appropriation of various funds, departments, institutions, offices, and agencies of Greene County for the next Fiscal Year budget.
There is no property tax increase this year and the budget projected is mostly the same as last year. The only request for additional funds that was approved was a $10,000 increase to the Roby Fitzgerald Senior Adult Center’s budget. There was a consideration for a budget increase to the Greeneville/Greene County Public Library. Because the library is a joint venture between the county and Town of Greeneville commissioners said an agreement between both parties should be written before moving forward on a budget increase.
A motion was made to approve the request for Non-profit Organizations to receive funding from amounts collected from the Hotel/Motel tax fund balance. The organizations would be funded at their current percentages up to the amount requested. Any additional revenue would be considered for other organizations.
