Hamilton County commissioners have earmarked about $26,000 in leftover travel funds for various nonprofits and educational initiatives in their districts.
Each commissioner receives $12,500 per year in discretionary dollars for travel and office expenses. Members can distribute leftover funds to local organizations. Anything commissioners don’t spend flows back into the county’s general fund, Finance Director Lee Brouner said in an interview.
With the county’s fiscal year ending June 30, the panel will vote on 11 of those allocations next Wednesday. Together, those allocations total $26,052.64.
— Commissioner Mike Chauncey, R-East Ridge, is asking his colleagues to distribute $2,500 to the East Ridge Needy Child Fund to support programming.
Chauncey told commissioners the organization as been around for many years and commended the support it offers families in his district. The East Ridge Needy Child Fund provides children with food, coats, shoes, clothes and toys.
— Commissioner Steve Highlander, R-Ooltewah, has set aside $2,000 for the Harrison Bay Future Ready Center — which houses two Hamilton County Schools future-ready institutes focusing on architecture, engineering design and advanced manufacturing — to help cover scholarships for students to travel to the National Skills USA Contest.
(READ MORE: Commissioners tussle over travel allowance)
— Commissioner David Sharpe, D-Red Bank, has set aside just more than $5,000 for the Hamilton County Schools Foundation for programming.
Over the past couple of years, Sharpe told the commission, his surplus discretionary money has helped address issues with athletic fields. This year, his funds will support the purchase of musical instruments for students across the county.
— Commissioner Jeff Eversole, R-Ooletwah, has also set aside $2,000 to help students at Harrison Bay Future Ready Center to attend the National Skills USA Contest. Another $2,000 would go to the Snow Hill Recreation League, a baseball and softball league in Ooltewah, to assist with travel costs for boys’ and girls’ all-star teams.
— Commission Chairman Chip Baker, R-Signal Mountain, has set aside $3,000 for the Mowbray Volunteer Fire Department for the purchase of water rescue equipment such as boots, floating devices and whistles.
Another $3,000 has been reserved for Waldens Ridge Emergency Services for upgrading fire hoses and $3,000 for the Mountain Education Foundation, which Baker told commissioners supports students attending Governor’s School — summer programs for rising 11th and 12th grade students — or technology competitions.
— Commissioner Gene-o Shipley, R-Soddy-Daisy, has set aside $500 for Tyner High School to help defray the cost of state championship rings for the Tyner Rams football team.
(READ MORE: Tyner celebrates first football state title in 25 years with ring ceremony)
Another $1,500 would go to the Soddy Daisy Food Bank to cover operating expenses. Shipley said during the meeting that the food bank supports constituents across his district and estimated it serves about 500 families per month. Lastly, $1,500 would be distributed to the Soddy-Daisy Vietnam Veterans Foundation to help provide services for veterans and their families.
Contact David Floyd at dfloyd@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.