A Hamilton County Commission vote last month that diverted $850,000 from two local nonprofits wasn’t the first time a member proposed the idea of clawing back pandemic relief money.
During a Sept. 21, 2022, meeting, Commissioner Greg Beck, D-North Brainerd, introduced a resolution to pull $500,000 from the Sankofa Civic Engagement Organization and $400,000 from the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga.
The board tabled the item after Commissioner Lee Helton, R-East Brainerd, raised concerns, stating Beck’s proposal was sudden. Tabling a resolution means eight commissioners must be in favor of bringing it back for consideration.
“I think it could set a bad precedent to start removing money that a previous commission has allocated,” Helton said during the Sept. 21, 2022, meeting, one of the board’s first after being sworn in earlier that month. “I would like to take a little more time to look at it and have the parties affected come in here and have a say.”