The Wilson County Budget Committee has approved a proposed budget with no property tax increase for the fiscal year 2024-25.
The next step is for the entire county budget and accepted needs lists to be approved by the full Wilson County Commission on June 17. The current property tax rate is $1.9089 per $100 of assessed value.
Although the county received $2.1 million in growth money for the general fund over the past year, the total growth money for the entire year was $6.1 million, according to Wilson County Finance Director Aaron Maynard.
Growth money is property tax money raised from new development. The difference in the two amounts is that the additional $4 million is spread across the budget, going to different areas, such as schools.
All county employees will receive a 2 percent pay increase, as laid out in the pay study the county commissioned two years ago. The county began working on another pay study on May 30.
Wilson County Schools submitted its budget information to the committee but did not submit a needs list for the upcoming fiscal year.
The school district is planning to give each certified employee at least a 5 percent pay increase. WCS classified employees will receive a 2 percent raise. Beginning teacher raises will increase and teachers will also get a step-plan salary increase, based on degrees and years of teaching.
WCS Director Jeff Luttrell said that classified employees’ beginning hourly pay will also increase, as will pay for educational assistants and substitute teachers.
“Most of our increases (in the budget) come in the form of salaries,” WCS Finance Director Lisa Baxley said. “They make up about 80% of our budget.”
The budget also includes new positions, as well as building and sports facilities repairs.
Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto and WEMA Director Joey Cooper agreed to funding for four paramedics, rather than funding Cooper’s original request of three paramedics and three EMTs. These people would be for an additional ambulance in Lebanon, Cooper said. That would free up $152,000 from the WEMA budget.
That move helped the budget committee allocate more money for sheriff’s office employees to help staff the jail, which will in turn allow for more officers to patrol the streets and answer calls. Sheriff Robert Bryan reiterated the need for a pay increase for all employees.
He asked for an additional $78,000 to raise the department’s employees to a salary that would be comparable to other departments in the area. Bryan said the department is currently down 15 people.
IN THE BUDGET
Some items approved by the Wilson County Budget Committee to get approval from the entire county commission (compiled by Commissioner Lauren Breeze):
*A 2% raise to county employees.
*Additional funds to Planning, Zoning, and Codes departments for uniforms, additional fuel costs, and to promote a zoning employee to director.
*Converted a 17-year contract employee to a full-time county employee in Soil and Conservation Department.
*Additional secretary to the sheriff’s narcotics division.
*Additional funding to make corrections officer pay more competitive.
*Funds for new position at the Election Commission.
*Funds to Property Assessor for a new vehicle.
*Added two positions at Wilson County Animal Control – a kennel tech and an additional Animal Control Officer.
*Added an additional probation officer.
*Added four paramedics which will add another ambulance to service the Lebanon area.
*Added an additional dispatcher for WEMA.
*Part-time position in the finance department.
*Converted part-time position at veterans office to full-time position.
*Funded $50,000 to the Watertown Library to replace the entrance and handicap door.
*One-time capital requests from several departments for computer replacements, small building renovations, firewall updates, equipment for WEMA.