Some Hamilton County commissioners are doubling down on their push to loosen rules on a combined $900,000 in annual special project spending. And to get their point across, the commissioners are looking to dole out about $145,000 in so-called discretionary funds before next month.
During an agenda session Wednesday, commissioners discussed more than $70,000 in commission spending on three projects requested by Commissioners Tim Boyd and Warren Mackey.
Boyd is asking to spend $30,000 to bolster the playground budget at the new East Brainerd Elementary School. And he's asking to dish out $10,481 to buy large interactive electronic boards for Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts. Boyd described them as "giant iPads" students could use for group projects.
Mackey is asking commissioners to approve buying a $30,000 digital sign for the South Chattanooga Recreation Center.
Those requests add up to $75,000 in expenses commissioners passed last week in Sabrena Smedley's and Marty Haynes' districts.
Previously, the commission passed a $60,000 expense for Smedley to help build a restroom facility at East Hamilton Middle/High School. And they passed a $15,000 expense by Haynes to buy thermal imaging cameras for the Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department.
Each of the nine commissioners is allotted $100,000 a year for special projects. In the past, commissioners were able to spend that money at their discretion, with large purchases approved by the full commission.
Hamilton County is the only county in the state that allows individual commissioners to directly spend more than $5,000. Good government groups and other budget watchdogs have questioned the practice, raising concerns about commissioners using public funds for political benefit.
But last year, the money was tied to bonds, which put restrictions on how the funds could be used. Bond funds can be used only for capital projects on public property. Such items must last longer than 15 years, such as school playground equipment, band instruments, heavy machinery or construction projects.
In April, commissioners submitted a budget request that moved the discretionary funds back to the general fund, thus removing the restrictions.
On Wednesday, Boyd praised the funds. Citing his playground equipment purchase for East Brainerd Elementary, Boyd said he agreed to match funds with the school's parent-teacher association to make it work.
"This is a good example of how these discretionary funds can be leveraged to get our community involved," Boyd said.
All of the purchases requested Wednesday fit within the bond rules, but Mackey still pushed for commissioners to pressure Mayor Jim Coppinger to remove the restrictions.
"I hope the commission will see the need to restore those discretionary monies," Mackey said.
Coppinger said last month it was too early in the budget process to say how discretionary funds would be handled. And on Wednesday his chief of staff, Mike Compton, said that hasn't changed.
Contact staff writer Louie Brogdonat lbrogdon@timesfreepress.com, @glbrogdoniv on Twitter or at 423-757-6481.