HUNTINGDON, Tenn. — Carroll County employees will receive a 3% raise across the board in the new fiscal year budget, which also keeps the county’s tax rate unchanged at 88 cents per $100 of assessed value.
But the budget didn’t pass without Commissioner Barry Mac Murphy raising objections to the spending plan that, for the second year in a row, projects more in expenditures than revenue.
“You can’t spend more money than what you put in,” said Murphy. “Anytime you got more money going out than you got coming in, you got a problem.”
He cast the sole ‘no’ vote on the budget, which passed 17-1.
Budget by the Numbers
According to the budget, Carroll County expects to bring in $31,768,690 in revenue this fiscal year, against $34,081,313 in expenditures. That’s a gap of roughly $2.3 million that will come out of the county’s fund balance.
The largest piece of that deficit comes from the Carroll County School general purpose fund, which is budgeted to lose $1,347,700. This marks the third year in a row that the school fund has posted deficits, and a few commissioners see trouble ahead.
“It’s going to be a challenge for us to continue to maintain the school system in its current state,” said Commissioner John Austin. “We control their revenue. We don’t control their expenses.”
He explained that during budget discussions, the finance committee sent the school’s budget back for cuts.
“They sent it back and said, ‘here, we cut $60,000.’,” Austin Said. “That doesn’t help when you’re $1.3 million in the red.”
Austin expressed worry that the Comptroller’s office will issue a finding against Carroll County in regards to the school fund’s annual losses.
“We’re going to get a strong, stern letter from the comptroller,” he said. “So we’re going to accept it, but they’re going to slap us on the wrist and say fix it. We’ve been in the red for three years now.”
Commissioner Darrell Ridgely, filling in as chair in Mayor Joseph Butler’s absence, said this isn’t the first time they’ve had to send the school’s budget back for revision.
“That’s why we met late last year, that’s why we’re meeting late this year,” he said.
“This is the equivalent of giving your 16-year-old a checkbook and expecting you to fund it after they spend it,” Ridgely added. “We will get a solution. We won’t meet late next year.”
The rest of the county’s deficit comes largely from grant funds already earmarked for ongoing infrastructure projects, including money for water line replacement through the Cedar Grove Utility District and nearly $1 million in airport improvement grants.
Nonprofit Donations
In addition to the overall budget, the commission unanimously approved to appropriate $61,323 to nonprofit organizations across the county.
The donations include $8,000 to Carroll County Rescue Squad, $6,000 to McKenzie Memorial Library, $25,000 to Carl Perkins Center, $5,000 to Gordon Browning Museum, $10,000 to Carroll County Shooting Sports Park, $3,823 to WRAP Organization, $2,000 to CASA of Carroll County, and $1,500 to TN Rehab Center.
Payroll Resolution Finalized
The commission unanimously approved Resolution 4-07-2026, finalizing the county’s transition to a biweekly, pay-for-days-worked payroll structure.
“They will get a bonus paycheck on July 10, they’ll get their first paycheck on July 17, and then they will get paid every other week after that,” Ridgely explained. “There’s not going to be the lag time, and the deductions that come out of their checks will come out every other week, so they’re not hit with a massive amount at one time.”
Fire Department Procedures Adopted
The commission unanimously approved Resolution 6-1-2026, adopting the Carroll County Fire Department’s Standard Operating Manual, Standard Operating Guidelines, and Standard Operating Procedures.
Sheriff Speaks About Retirement Program
Sheriff Andy Dickson used the citizens forum to remind commissioners about the hazardous duty retirement supplement he’s been pursuing for nearly two years. He said he expected it to be on the agenda.
“I thought we had a resolution worked out to where it would be brought for a vote tonight. That’s not going to be the case,” Dickson said. “I have reassurances from Commissioner Darrell Ridgely that it would be on the agenda to be voted up or down at the next meeting in August, and I’m going to take him at his word.”
Dickson said the program would cost taxpayers nothing, pointing to roughly $800,000 his department has turned back to the county this year.
“I’d say in my 16 years I’ve never not turned money back in to the commission,” Dickson said.
He added the program has the potential to help every full-time law enforcement officer and firefighter in the county, including jail staff, though it does not currently extend to dispatch. “I wish it did, but it don’t.”
Other Business
The Commission approved three year-end budget amendment resolutions: Resolution 6-2-2026, amending the general fund budget to cover year-end adjustments to the library, jail, and other county departments; Resolution 6-3-2026, amending the solid waste fund budget; and Resolution 6-4-2026, amending the drug fund budget.
The commission also approved the following notaries: Lisa Brewer, Katie Gergar, Lalonnie Gillespie, Karen Moore, and Sheri Singleton.