Budget Issues
Some of our Loudon County Commissioners believe in the old adage of "we can't be out of money, we still have checks in our checkbook."
County Commission approved moving $600,000 from the county general fund for the new school project(s) with the understanding that the county would be paid back with funds for the new bonds. Why wasn't the money spent from the BOE general fund? Why the rush for bonds issuance at 5% when rates are expected to drop this year?
Debt Ratio Growth is spiraling upward.
This is compounded by the fact that I cannot find evidence of bids for education capital projects, convenience center expansion, or other expensive undertakings. I was told that we should just trust them as companies like Cope always did a good job...would you generally not get quotes for every large project in your home or business?
Also, if the sky is falling due to apartments and homes being built in Lenoir City, then why are county homeowners being saddled with debt?
Increase in tax rate? We have went from bragging about one of the lowest property tax rates to free falling down the list.
Lots more to come...
Your Voice is Being Ignored
WHY DOESN'T LOUDON COUNTY HAVE A LONG TERM BUDGET PLAN?
Loudon County has historically been a fiscally conservative county but unfortunately I feel that is no longer accurate based upon what appears to be happening on the Loudon County Commission. It does not matter, whether you are a Republican, a democrat, or an independent. We should all demand that taxpayers are allowed to keep their hard earn money in their pockets and money should only be spent when necessary. All of us should be asking simple questions.
1. If any money is going to be spent, what alternatives have been reviewed first?
2. If any money has to be spent, who is managing the process and providing full transparency to all taxpayers?
3. I have been told that if I wanted information regarding what was going on in our county that I should attend all of the committee meetings, workshops, etc. as the county was not required to publish all the information on their website. Isn't it the job of our commissioners to keep us informed?
BUDGET ISSUES
Loudon County is faced with an uncertain future. Budgeting is managed on a month to month, year by year basis with no long term planning.
- Property taxes were raised to fund a new high school with very little explanation
- We were first told that all the data came from the Board of Education
- The Director of Schools said their data came from a commissioner
- We keep getting told that all schools are at or over capacity, but we were told the property tax increase was to build a new high school near Lenoir City High School.
- WHAT ABOUT THE OVERCROWDING IN OTHER SCHOOLS? DON'T ALL SCHOOLS DESERVE EQUAL CONSIDERATION?
- Projects are constantly over budget and involve millions of dollars of expense without stated ROI
- Courthouse
- Additional Loudon County Clerk satellite office
- Records Annex
- Communications regarding pay increases leaves confusion and ill-will
- Several changes after budget recommendations:
- Cost of living vs flat fee increases? Which was it?
- Employees were confused and frustrated
- Several changes after budget recommendations:
- Legal expenses continue to mount and we will spend as much on legal fees as we will Employee Benefits
- County Lawyers
- Landfill Lawyers
- Lawsuits (current)
- Threats of additional lawsuits
- Landfill issues have dragged on for years
- ARPA fund expenditures provided very little long term recovery (with some notable exceptions such as the new officers training facility in Lenoir City)