Hamilton County Commission to consider $20,000 more in discretionary spending

photo District 8 Commissioner Tim Boyd asks questions at a Hamilton County Commission meeting recently.

OTHER BIG-TICKET DISCRETIONARY ITEMS

So far this budget year, which started July 1, 2014, only a few other commissioners have made purchases that require approval from the commission. * Before he left office, former Commissioner Fred Skillern spent $26,431 from the District 1 fund for an athletics facility at Sale Creek Middle-High School. * Commissioner Jim Fields has spent $14,456 for wrestling mats at Red Bank High School and $50,000 on a firetruck for Walden's Ridge Emergency Service. * Commissioner Marty Haynes spent $17,000 on a rescue truck for Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department. * Commissioner Joe Graham spent $34,998 on Lookout Valley Elementary playground equipment and $17,370 on a Normal Park School stormwater runoff project. * Before leaving office, former Commissioner Larry Henry spent $16,900 to resurface tennis courts at Standifer Gap. * Commissioner Chester Bankston has spent $20,000 for ball field improvements at Ooltewah Youth Association and $14,050 in paving at the Snow Hill Elementary baseball field.

County Commissioner Tim Boyd has pledged nearly $20,000 in discretionary funds to buy nine band instruments with cases and carriers for East Ridge High School.

During an agenda session Wednesday, no commissioner questioned the expenditure. And Finance Committee Chairman Joe Graham said the purchase is expected to be approved next week at the voting meeting.

This will be the second big discretionary expense for Boyd in the last two months. In December, commissioners unanimously supported his expenditure of $11,670 to cover part of the cost of a metal sculpture that stands at the corner of Bass Road and East Brainerd Road. Commissioners have to vote on discretionary purchases that exceed $10,000.

The proposed $19,947 purchase includes three sousaphones, two bass clarinets, four bass drums and four brass drum carriers, according to bid documents.

Boyd said Wednesday the instruments will be loaned to students.

"There are a lot of kids at East Ridge High School who don't have parents who can afford this," Boyd said.

Boyd also has pledged to cover the cost of new chairs for the county's criminal and Sessions Courts, if the accepted bid exceeds $87,000.

County Mayor Jim Coppinger said in December it was "time to have a discussion" about discretionary funds, and some commissioners said they would support eliminating the combined $900,000 a year commissioners get to spend on capital projects.

But on Wednesday, Coppinger said it was too early in the budget process to determine the fate of discretionary funds.

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