Marion County Mayor John Graham.JASPER, Tenn. – The squabble over funding for Marion County’s rural volunteer fire departments, rescue squad and emergency management agency will continue for at least two more months.
The County Commission this week failed to vote on a budget amendment to restore funds in prior years. The commissioner referred the issue back to the finance committee.
During a budget crunch in 2011, the board cut out all the $193,000 it had previously given the volunteer organizations each year. Since then, the board has reinstated 75 percent of that money.
Commissioners were prepared to restore the rest, about $36,000, for the fire departments and rescue squad before members discovered the amendment didn’t include extra money for the emergency management agency.
County Mayor John Graham said the extra money would come from the fund balance, but the budget amendment under consideration Monday was “not adequate for some of the discussion” that occurred during the meeting.