Hickman County TN

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34

Budget, Finance & Human Resources · Work Session · Apr 23, 2026

Thu, Apr 23, 2026

Oversees the annual budget process, departmental funding requests, and personnel policies including hiring, compensation, and benefits.

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Outline

This outline was generated by an LLM from a transcript and may contain errors or inaccuracies. Prefer the original recording when available.

The work session focused on wrapping up most remaining county budget review before full commission, with the main substantive debate on the EMA/Civil Defense budget and whether to preserve $20,000 in part-time pay inside the adopted budget lines or use a tighter alternate version. Members ultimately approved the regular EMA proposal with the part-time line intact, after discussion about disaster workload, the risk of later fund-balance amendments if the budget was cut too close, and the county mayor’s support for added help. The committee also amended the Veterans Services budget to convert it from a full-time setup to a leaner part-time structure after the prior officer’s retirement and lack of applicants.

Other notable budget threads included overall technology, trustee, jail, Extension, Soil Conservation, EMS, and Highway Department variances against the county’s requested 3% salary / 4% growth targets; the committee approved the broader general-fund budget package as amended, approved the highway fund, noted the school budget is still forthcoming, and canceled one scheduled budget meeting while moving the budget public hearing date.

New Business / Agenda Items 0:00

Budget overview and department variances 0:01

  • 0:01 The technology budget was described as up 8.8%, driven by a contract increase and an added website-management service.
  • 0:22 The trustee’s department was described as up 9.2%, attributed to use of bond-related functions or costs.
  • 0:46 The sheriff’s jail budget was described as up 8.1%, but the increase was said to be largely due to smokeless tobacco; without that item, the increase would be about 4%.
  • 1:05 EMA/Civil Defense presented two budget options; the requested version kept $20,000 in part-time pay while reducing other lines to stay within the county’s overall target.
  • 1:23 Extension’s increase was tied to filling an open position that had reportedly remained vacant for a couple of years; reference was made to a prior budget already carrying about $75,000 for that slot.
  • 1:49 Soil Conservation’s budget issue was a request for county participation in a district technician position, with counties asked to contribute $12,000 each.
  • 2:03 EMS was said to fall back under the overall 4% increase threshold after its budget was adjusted down to 5%, yielding an overall increase of about 3%.
  • 3:05 The presented bottom-line budget figure was $3,872,067.
  • 3:22 The committee was told it would utilize $1,727,933.7 from fund balance or reserves.
  • 4:03 Members said a budget deficit in the $4 million range is not unusual in this process and that the estimated ending balance approach has been used for several years.

Civil Defense / EMA budget discussion 4:45

  • 4:45 Discussion centered on why EMA wanted the money shifted into a larger part-time salary line rather than left scattered across other lines.
  • 5:05 EMA explained the issue was not increasing the total budget, but making part-time pay available without later moving money into salaries by amendment.
  • 5:37 Finance explained that moving money into salaries later could be done, but would require a budget amendment through committee.
  • 6:06 The practical difference between the two EMA versions was clarified: not more total money, but $20,000 available in the part-time line instead of about $5,000–$5,500.
  • 6:25 EMA said the part-time need is for a communications worker currently working about 8 hours weekly; the proposed line would allow something closer to 24 hours per week.

Veterans Services budget amendment 7:58

  • 7:58 A member raised the Veterans Services budget on page 17, account 58300, arguing the worksheet still reflected last year’s full-time staffing.
  • 8:44 The committee was reminded the veterans affairs officer had retired midyear.
  • 8:59 It was stated the mayor had been trying to hire a part-time veterans affairs officer but had received no applications.
  • 9:09 Members argued the new budget should reflect a part-time, not full-time, veterans affairs position, especially since Mr. Humphreys had gone to work for the city.
  • 9:23 A motion was made to reduce line 105 under 58300 from $36,499 to $22,000, based on a part-time schedule at about $17.50 per hour, similar to prior pay, working roughly 3 days a week.
  • 9:55 The same motion zeroed out lines 338 (maintenance and repair of vehicles), 355 (travel), 425 (gasoline), and 599 (other charges), on the rationale that a part-time veterans affairs officer would not need the prior transportation and miscellaneous operating lines.
  • 10:32 Office supplies and office equipment were intentionally left in place in case the mayor or next mayor successfully fills the position and needs basic equipment such as a computer.
  • 11:50 The motion received a second from Commissioner Dusty Jordan.
  • 12:48 Discussion suggested the city’s part-time arrangement and the county’s part-time arrangement could complement one another, effectively improving coverage across the county.
  • 13:49 One member noted possible East Hickman office hours might require some travel or gasoline funding later, and suggested a future budget amendment if needed.
  • 14:29 The mover said he had not considered that East Hickman possibility but was open to later adjustment if necessary.
  • 15:30 Members agreed any modest travel need could be handled later rather than retaining those lines now.
  • 15:57 Roll-call vote approved the Veterans Services amendment 11–0.

Civil Defense / EMA decision 16:31

  • 16:31 After the veterans vote, the committee returned to EMA as the other major unresolved budget issue.
  • 17:16 Members thanked EMA staff for quickly preparing an alternate budget and praised department heads generally for trying to stay within requested limits.
  • 17:39 Members cited the recent ice storm as evidence of EMA’s workload and value, noting long hours and overlapping disaster responsibilities.
  • 18:34 A caution was raised that if EMA cut the budget “to the bone” and later needed even a small amount, a budget amendment might have to come from fund balance rather than by moving money inside the existing budget, making approval harder.
  • 19:41 EMA responded that the revised numbers were built from actual spending this year and represented the best attempt to stay within the committee’s target while still meeting operational needs.
  • 20:35 A broader governance discussion followed: a member argued that, except for elected offices like the sheriff, department-head budgets should come to the committee with the county mayor’s endorsement rather than department heads “politicking” directly for them.
  • 23:06 County Mayor Jim Bates said all director budgets do come across his desk first and that he had discussed the EMA budget directly with Pete Tibbs.
  • 24:08 The mayor said EMA “has to have” help, citing three disasters in progress or in backlog, including EAS and winter storm work layered onto unresolved prior events.
  • 24:40 The mayor said he and EMA had settled on a part-time approach as a way to add help while containing cost.
  • 24:56 The mayor said he had specifically asked whether the adjusted budget would impair other operations and was told it would not.
  • 25:45 The mayor said that with the alternate now on the table, he would accept the version keeping $20,000 in part-time pay if EMA said it was needed.
  • 27:03 A motion was made to approve the EMA/Civil Defense budget as originally presented, not the tighter alternate, thereby keeping the $20,000 part-time help line.
  • 27:13 The motion was seconded by Commissioner Dusty Jordan.
  • 27:32 Roll-call vote approved the EMA budget 11–0.

General fund budget package approval 28:15

  • 28:15 Members confirmed that aside from the specifically discussed exceptions, departments had been brought into the requested 3% salary / 4% growth framework.
  • 28:55 A motion was made to approve fund 101 as presented and as amended during the meeting.
  • 29:00 The motion was seconded by Commissioner Matthew Barnhill.
  • 29:10 Roll-call vote approved fund 101 11–0.

Highway fund budget 29:46

  • 29:46 Finance clarified that fund 131 (Highway) had not yet been approved.
  • 30:11 It was noted the remaining unresolved major budgets after that were the school budget and fund 207, with 207 expected to return from the Solid Waste Committee with a recommendation.
  • 31:31 Discussion of the highway budget noted revenues appearing to increase by about 2%, while expenditures were up about 6%.
  • 32:23 The estimated ending fund balance for Highway was stated as about $305,000.
  • 33:15 A motion was made to approve the Highway Department budget, fund 131, as submitted.
  • 33:24 The motion received a second from Commissioner Ron Mayberry.
  • 33:35 Roll-call vote approved fund 131 11–0.

Announcements 30:21

  • 30:21 Members announced the Solid Waste Committee would meet on the first Monday in May, stated here as the 4th of May, and invited commissioners and the public.
  • 34:03 With most budget work complete, members agreed there was no need for the already scheduled April 30 budget meeting, and it was canceled.
  • 34:30 The school budget presentation was scheduled for May 7.
  • 34:43 The committee discussed moving the budget public hearing from May 18 to May 19 to avoid a member conflict.
  • 35:20 With no objection, the public hearing was moved from May 18 to May 19, same time.
  • 35:41 Finance was asked to handle the needed public notices for the schedule change.

Adjournment 36:03

  • 36:09 With no further business, a motion and second were made to adjourn.

Key figures and statistics

Figure Type Context / topic Timestamp
8.8% Percentage Technology budget increase 0:01
9.2% Percentage Trustee’s department budget increase 0:22
8.1% Percentage Sheriff jail budget increase before adjustment explanation 0:46
4% Percentage Sheriff jail budget increase excluding smokeless tobacco item 0:46
$20,000 Expense EMA requested part-time pay line 1:05
4% Percentage County’s target overall budget growth threshold referenced for EMA 1:05
2 Count Number of EMA budget options presented 1:05
$75,000 Expense Prior budget amount referenced for Extension open position 1:40
$12,000 Expense County contribution requested for Soil Conservation district technician position 1:56
5% Percentage EMS reduction point that brought overall increase down 2:03
3% Percentage EMS overall increase after adjustment 2:11
$3,872,067 Budget total Bottom-line figure presented 3:05
$1,727,933.7 Fund balance use Amount said to be utilized from reserves/fund balance 3:22
$4 million Budget context Typical deficit range discussed during budget process 4:03
$5,000 Expense Approximate smaller part-time line in EMA alternate discussion 6:06
$5,500 Expense Approximate smaller part-time line in EMA alternate discussion 6:06
8 hours Time Current weekly communications part-time work at EMA 6:25
24 hours per week Time Desired weekly part-time coverage at EMA 6:41
17 Page number Budget packet page for Veterans Services discussion 7:58
58300 Account number Veterans Services budget account under discussion 8:27
105 Line item Veterans Services salary line amended 9:23
$36,499 Expense Original Veterans Services line 105 amount referenced for reduction 9:23
$22,000 Expense New Veterans Services part-time salary amount approved 9:23
$17.50 Hourly rate Rate cited to justify Veterans Services part-time line 9:32
3 days a week Time Part-time Veterans Services schedule referenced 9:39
338 Line item Veterans Services vehicle maintenance line zeroed out 9:55
355 Line item Veterans Services travel line zeroed out 10:02
425 Line item Veterans Services gasoline line zeroed out 10:02
599 Line item Veterans Services other charges line zeroed out 10:02
11–0 Vote Veterans Services budget amendment approval 15:57
$2,000 Expense Example amount cited in warning about needing a later fund-balance amendment 18:54
100% Percentage Mayor’s statement that EMA needs help 24:08
3 Count Number of disasters/backlog items cited in EMA justification 24:08
24 hours a week Time Part-time help level tied to EMA plan 24:44
11–0 Vote EMA/Civil Defense budget approval 27:32
3% Percentage Salary-growth target referenced for most budgets 28:15
4% Percentage Overall growth target referenced for most budgets 28:15
101 Fund number General fund budget approved as amended 28:55
11–0 Vote Fund 101 approval 29:10
131 Fund number Highway fund under consideration and approval 29:46
207 Fund number Solid waste-related fund still pending recommendation 30:11
2% Percentage Highway revenue increase discussed 31:31
6% Percentage Highway expenditure increase discussed 31:31
$305,000 Fund balance Estimated ending Highway fund balance 32:23
11–0 Vote Highway fund approval 33:35
April 30 Date Scheduled budget meeting canceled 34:03
May 7 Date School budget presentation date 34:30
May 18 Date Original public hearing date 34:43
May 19 Date New public hearing date approved 34:52
4th of May Date Solid Waste Committee meeting date announced 30:21

Personnel changes

Name Role / office Change Context / topic Timestamp
Mr. Humphreys Veterans Affairs Officer Retired Prior officer retired midyear; committee then revised budget toward a part-time replacement model 8:44

Laws and policies

Citation / name Level Type Context / topic Timestamp
3% salary / 4% growth target County Policy Budget guidance used to ask departments to limit salary and overall spending growth 28:15