The record $679.6 million budget the Hamilton County Commission passed Wednesday does not include discretionary money, even though six commissioners fought for those funds last year.
“I have not received one phone call, not one email, not one text pleading with me to keep discretionary funds,” Tim Boyd, one of those six commissioners, said. “If they are not going to stand behind me and fight for discretionary funds, then I’m not going to spend political capital to be the stalwart for discretionary funds.”
The 2017 budget calls for a $14.2 million increase over last year’s budget, and includes an additional $12 million for the county education system, $5.2 million more for higher health insurance costs and $2.65 million needed to pay for a 2.5 percent employee salary bump.
The budget does not call for a property tax increase, but it does anticipate 2 percent revenue growth.
Commissioners voted 8-0 in favor of the budget. Commissioner Randy Fairbanks did not attend the voting session.