ATHENS, Tenn. — McMinn County commissioners will hold a special meeting Monday to reconsider the 2008-09 budget after the panel voted it down this week.

Commissioners voted 7-3 on Monday not to adopt the $63 million budget after some expressed offense that new Schools Director David Pierce is being paid $10,000 a year more than the man he replaced.

Mr. Pierce, who replaces Dr. John Forgety, will earn $108,000 a year.

Commissioners who voted against the budget said the McMinn County Board of Education should come back to them with a new schools budget.

But school board Chairman Pat Chester said the contract with Mr. Pierce was signed July 1 and is binding. She said the next school board meeting is Aug. 14.

Mr. Pierce said Tuesday he was aware of the commission vote.

“I have heard about this, and we will be at the meeting,” he said.

Mr. Pierce said he didn’t take the job because of the salary, but because he’s interested in educating the county’s youth.

County Mayor John Gentry said he has asked county attorney Vance Baker to meet with the school board attorney to determine what the commission can address.

Commissioners who voted for the budget believe the commission should not dictate to the board.

“This is the school board’s decision, but I respect the nay votes,” Commissioner Gary Mason said at Monday’s meeting.

Chairman David Crews said commissioners may not have authority to dictate school board spending. But he added, “It is our authority to approve the bottom line.”

Commissioner Jack Powers, who voted for the budget, said the board could keep the director’s salary as it is and adjust spending somewhere else.

Other commissioners said they were not against Mr. Pierce, but felt the timing of the raise is wrong considering unemployment rates in the area.

Finance Director Jason Luallen said the county will operate on a contingency budget until the new budget is adopted. He said that could interfere in major purchases, such as patrol cars.

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