CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The county Finance Committee agreed Wednesday to amend the budgets of the county school board and county ambulance service.
Emergency Medical Services Director Danny Lawson said the ambulances’ Ford 6-liter diesel engines continue to create maintenance problems and the service needed more money to keep them running.
“When we have an ambulance down, we don’t have anything to move into,” Mr. Lawson told the committee of Bradley County commissioners.
The committee agreed to allow Mr. Lawson to shift $30,000 set aside for a new ambulance truck for maintenance instead. He will ask for the same sum for a new ambulance in the new budget that takes effect July 1.
The medical unit is a separate item that is attached to the truck chassis.
“He’s come up with a plan that works,” County Mayor D. Gary Davis said of Mr. Lawson’s request. That’s the proper way to seek budget changes, he said.
“What I am hearing is a department head that is looking forward,” committee Chairman Ed Elkins said.
Although no other department heads were named, Mr. Elkins has criticized Sheriff Tim Gobble for paying for gasoline used in 2006 after the 2007 budget year began. He said increased costs for gasoline should have been noted earlier.
Also Wednesday, committee members approved a $675,000 change in the county school board budget. They agreed to shift money from the schools fund balance and Basic Education Program funds to pay for a variety of projects.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Bradley County Finance Committee amended the county schools budget Wednesday.
* $50,000: From Bradley Central fine arts fund
* $225,000: From undesignated fund balance
* $400,000: From state BEP
* $150,000: To Michigan Avenue Elementary roof
* $250,000: To buy and set up portable classrooms
* $225,000: New Lake Forest Middle bleachers/floor
* $50,000: Replace Bradley Central Little Theater seats
* $675,000: Total budget amendment
Source: Bradley County Board of Education
Randall Higgins covers news in Cleveland, Tenn., for the Times Free Press. He started work with the Chattanooga Times in 1977 and joined the staff of the Chattanooga Times Free Press when the Free Press and Times merged in 1999. Randall has covered Southeast Tennessee, Northwest Georgia and Alabama. He now covers Cleveland and Bradley County and the neighboring region. Randall is a Cleveland native. He has bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Technological University. His awards ...
