Commission budget vote set for Monday

August 12, 2026 by Ben Pounds

The Anderson County Commission plans to vote on a budget for the next fiscal year at its meeting on Monday, Aug. 17.

The budget is to be $111,251,955 with a deficit of $5,233,919.

County Finance Director Robert Holbrook stated that the fund balance – the amount left over from this fiscal year – should be able to cover the deficit amount.

The new budget does not include tax increases.

Full numbers are on the Budget Committee’s Agenda, but Holbrook also provided The Courier News with highlights on changes from last year and what they will mean if passed.

Raises

Holbrook stated the budget will have a 3% salary increase for all General Fund employees, including Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.

It will have a 2% salary increase for all certified staff school staff and a 50-cents-per-hour raise for all classified staff, and $500 increases at different steps of experience.

Retirement-fund matching increases for both General Fund and schools will be 1% higher compared to the previous fiscal year.

Elected officials will receive raises of 2.63%.



Library

The new budget will add a library supervisor who will oversee the Clinton, Briceville, Norris and Rocky Top library directors and report directly to the Library Board.

The budget funds this new position by cutting the part-time library personnel budget by $45,000.



EMS

A newly staffed 12-hour Emergency Medical Services truck will service Oak Ridge.

EMS transport rates will increase by 5.4%, aligning with Medicare rate increases over the past two years.