By Mike Steely
Senior Writer
steelym@knoxfocus.com
The Knox County Commission meets today to consider an agenda with more than 40 items but, aside from a debate about the assault outside a Heritage Hubs meeting, most of the focus will probably be on future pay raises for commissioners and county funds going to nonprofit groups.
A 6% pay increase for all county employees was passed by the former commission, and newly elected Knox County Mayor Betsy Henderson decried it, saying politicians should not give themselves pay raises. Third District Commissioner Brandon Huckaby has a motion to change the county code and tie commission and school board raises to the state-recommended percentage, which was 2.63% this year.
At last week’s agenda review meeting, Knox County Finance Director Chris Caldwell gave a detailed report on what each county elected official receives in salary and reviewed past commission actions on their salaries. He suggested tying future commission and school board salary increases to the state figure as a solution.
He noted there is currently no written policy on pay raises but noted that when the commission is included in the 6% county employee pay raise, it looks like commission members are giving themselves a raise.
Chairwoman Terry Hill took exception to a spokesman for Mayor Henderson, saying “That’s enough, you can sit down,” and added the commission was aware of how Henderson felt about the issue. She noted that ten commissioners had voted for the 6% raise.
“I don’t know what we’re trying to fix,” Hill said, adding, “We’re taking time on this we shouldn’t be taking.” She said the county pay raises have not kept up with state pay over the years.
Caldwell reminded the commissioners they “cannot decline it” as the increase was already approved but that, “Tying it to the state takes it off the table.”
“We’re between a rock and a hard place,” Second District Commissioner Courtney Durrett said and suggested “pushing this a little bit” before a final vote.
If the charter change passes its first reading today, it goes to a second and final reading, but current commissioners will continue to receive the 6% raise until the next annual budget is adopted.
In other business, Fifth District Commissioner Angela Russell has two ordinances up for first readings. Russell wants tighter restrictions on organizations and non-profits applying for county funds.
The changes, which will see some discussion, would prohibit county funds for defined service contracts and hotel-motel funds going to any group assisting legal or illegal aliens. It would also update the filing requirements for all non-profits seeking county funds.
Several commissioners said they were in a middle ground as to how they would vote; three indicated they would vote “No,” and two hinted they would vote “Yes.”
