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Knox County finance committee looks to avoid later budget headaches

The Knox County Finance Committee is vowing to stay on top of the budget this year.

In November, a last minute shift of $500,000 from the Mary Davis Home to the General Fund was required to cover the deficit.

Last night they held a special meeting to find ways to trim fat from the budget, after income was down last year.

Finance Committee Chairman, Greg “Chops” Bacon tells WGIL that these meetings are to avoid headaches when it’s time to pass a budget.

“We don’t want to get into the position where we end up at the end of the year and we’re needing to find money quickly,” Bacon says. “We want to be abreast of it and this is what this is–more ways to cut, more ways to consolidate.”

Consolidating food buying for the Knox County Jail, Nursing Home and Mary Davis Home is among the items being looked into.

Departments that can possibly be consolidated with other counties or cities are another option.

Between the state budget gridlock that’s persisted for 6 months, and anemic income from taxes, Member Shawn Pittman doesn’t have high hopes for county revenue.

“Tax revenues are going to be down in the state this year,” Pittman said addressing the committee. “Anybody you talk to that’s in manufacturing says 2016 is going to suck.”

In addition to their regular meeting, the committee will meet again on Wednesday Feb. 10 to go over budget changes.

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