Tim Boyd
After nine months of chafing under restrictions to their discretionary funds, county commissioners now want the strings detached in this coming budget year.
Last year, Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger moved the nearly $1 million account to a bond fund, which limited how the money could be spent. At the time, only Commissioner Greg Beck expressed concern over changing the rules. The rest praised the restrictions. But five months later, commissioners questioned the wisdom of the change. Commissioner Tim Boyd said he didn’t like having the county pay interest on discretionary purchases.
In a budget request for the commission, the nine-member body asked Coppinger to include the annual $100,000-a-piece for so-called discretionary spending in the upcoming 2016 budget. Commissioners want it to be moved back into the county’s general fund, so they can spend the money how they wish.
According to state law, bond funds can only be spent on public property, on capital items that will last longer than 15 years, such as school playground equipment, band instruments, heavy machinery or construction projects.
Commissioner Tim Boyd says he doesn’t like those restrictions.