Sevier County employees won't get any salary raises next year under the new $4.8 million budget, but commissioners promised they would study the possibility if additional funding can be found.
Commissioners don't plan to increase taxes, although the budget exceeds last year's by about $200,000. The new budget is $9,936 higher than previously announced to cover benefits of employees who changed their status from part time to full time.The sheriff's department will get the largest portion of the budget - $800,000, an increase of approximately $140,000.
Class B roads will receive about $740,000, and non-departmental expenses will total $480,000.
The budget for the sheriff's department is separate from the jail, which will get an additional $460,000.
Other expenditures, which were previously announced in the tentative budget, are county attorney, $190,300; treasurer, $111,300; clerk/auditor, $138,700; recorder, $123,200; assessor, $207,780; commissioners, $77,000; surveyor, $12,500; precinct court, $134,500; health, $122,000; public defender, $47,000; fairgrounds, $45,300; recreation/television, $43,200.
Also, alcohol rehabilitation, $148,800; fire contracts, $143,500; emergency services, $115,300; public health, $122,000; emergency medical, $92,000; data processing, $69,400; economic development, $47,500; mosquito control, $44,500; Extension Service, $43,900; weed control, $39,800; employees' insurance, $35,000; office supplies, $15,000; District Court, $11,500; office supplies, $15,000; welfare, $3,000.
Commissioners estimate that about $1.6 million will come from county property taxes with $350,000 from court fines. Other governments account for a large part of the revenue, along with such sources as the landfill, transient room taxes, licenses and services.