Bradley County finance committee approves broad package of budget amendments, funds first-responder mental-health services and juvenile improvements

The Bradley County Finance Committee on Monday approved a wide package of end-of-year budget amendments, consolidating dozens of line-item transfers and approving targeted funding moves for road equipment, first-responder services and juvenile-court facility work.

The committee approved an intra-account reallocation of $65,000 for the Road Department and separately authorized revenue/expense adjustments to buy a sign-shop service truck ($80,619.22) and a mower ($109,816). Commissioners also approved smaller equipment-sale reallocations and consolidated repetitive line-item changes into packaged votes to speed consideration; all such motions were carried by voice vote, 5–0.

In a notable allocation tied to the county's opioid settlement funds, commissioners approved moving $6,000 from the opioid fund balance into account 54150, line 340, to cover medical and dental services described to the committee as mental-health therapy for first responders. Commissioner Hughes made the motion and Commissioner Slater seconded; the motion passed 5–0. Staff told commissioners the transfer is intended to help cover services through the end of the fiscal year.

Juvenile Court brought several intra-account amendments, including a $70,000 transfer to account 707 (building improvements) to support planned renovations. The juvenile director described a phased plan: converting existing booking and office space to new offices and an additional downstairs courtroom to achieve ADA compliance, upgrading bathrooms and, depending on available carryover funds, possible site work related to parking and removal of a hillside. Commissioners approved the juvenile-court amendments 5–0. The director also reported recent operational statistics and intercounty placements that staff expect will continue to generate some revenue while the county maintains staffing and capacity for local emergency placements.

The committee approved a large bundled package of services-rendered amendments (pages 61–120 in the packet) covering sheriff, EMS and other departments; that package passed 5–0. Throughout the meeting staff and commissioners repeatedly consolidated repetitive line items into grouped motions to reduce the number of individual roll calls.

Why it matters: these amendments adjust how existing funds are allocated across county departments late in the fiscal year and create carryover or spending authority for capital and service needs going into the next budget cycle. The opioid-fund transfer earmarks settlement money for first-responder health services, and the juvenile-court moves support accessibility and capacity work that county officials told commissioners is a priority.

The committee set its next meeting to review the mayor’s full budget proposal next Friday at 9:00 a.m. and confirmed an end-of-year amendment session will follow. All recorded motions in this meeting passed by unanimous voice vote (5–0).