$900,000 In County Commission "Discretionary" Funds Not In Coppinger Budget

  • Tuesday, June 2, 2015

County Mayor Jim Coppinger confirmed that $900,000 in annual "discretionary spend" for the County Commission members is not in the upcoming recommended budget.

County Mayor Coppinger said, "We took a close look at that, and it was not included in our budget."

He said, "We were the only people in the state handing out funds that way."

The county mayor said commissioners will still have discretion over $12,500 per year in travel funds. He said that can be used for district projects.

And he said unused portions can be carried over from year to year.

Commissioners in recent years have gotten $100,000 to use as they see fit.

Following questions about the program, it was agreed that the county website would list how each commissioner was using the fund.

Former County Commissioner Curtis Adams said there should not be much opposition to the move "since half about of them ran on getting rid of the discretionary funds."

However, he said he found the fund helpful while he was commissioner. He said, "It was a good thing for the little things that the big budget never took care of."

The commission has final say-so on the budget and could decide to keep the discretionary fund.

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