Bedford County Financial Management Committee discussed Tuesday evening the issue of county government’s contributions to independent, not-for-profit agencies.

Last month, Commissioner Linda Yockey of the finance committee proposed a policy for the committee to use when deciding on contributions to not-for-profit agencies during the annual budget process. Last month’s proposal included a list of specific agencies that would be funded, and another list of agencies that would be phased out over the next few years. Yockey’s proposal was deferred last month, but Tuesday night she came back with an alternate proposal, one which wouldn’t lock in a list of agencies but would instead give guidelines for which agencies should be funded and how much the county should set aside for not-for-profit agencies.

“My whole problem with this is so that we’re consistent from year to year,” said Yockey.

“I feel like as a member, I sit here, and I listen to them, and I want to give everybody everything. But there’s only X amount of money.”

She said she’s trying to bring awareness to the issue.

***Guidelines

The new guidelines would create a three-member subcommittee of the finance committee to analyze the financial records and requests of each not-for-profit agency asking for assistance.

Priority would be given to

•501(c)3 not-for-profit agencies;

•Agencies which require local matching funds in order to maintain their state or federal funding;

•Agencies directly related to the county’s judicial and educational functions; and

•Agencies specifically endorsed by the full county commission.

Yockey’s guidelines call for the total level of funding, for all agencies, to stay at about 4 cents per $100 assessed value on the county property tax rate, which is about where it stands in the current fiscal year’s budget.

The policy will govern the finance committee when it makes its budget recommendations, but it’s the full county commission that has the final say on budgets and tax rates. The proposed policy was approved by the committee.

In other discussion Tuesday evening:

***Budget amendment

The finance committee approved amendment #2 for the county general fund and sent it on to the full commission for approval. Mid-year budget amendments shift money to reflect unexpected revenues and expenses and bring the budget back into balance. This budget accounts for several grants, but the main change is to move money from a designated courthouse security account into a line item from which it can be spent. The money will be spent on security improvements at the county’s new justice center, as recommended by the state’s courtroom security expert.

The money being spent is from a designated fund, generated by court fees, that can only be used for courthouse security projects. It does not come from property or sales tax revenue.

The committee also approved the change orders to the justice center’s construction contract that are required to implement the security improvements.

***Solid waste

Solid waste and recycling coordinator Diane Forbes reported that new signage at the county convenience centers has been well-received and is helpful to users. A new sign is now in the works for the county’s tire disposal center.

The tire disposal center only received 12 tires during a free-disposal day earlier this month.

Forbes said that there’s trouble with the compactor at the Unionville convenience center. One of two new compactors, due to arrive in the next few months, will go there; the other will be placed at El Bethel.

***Contracts

The committee recommended a five-year contract for the county school system with Skyward Inc. for its school management software program. Multi-year contracts must be approved by the full commission because they commit the county for more than a single fiscal year.

The committee also recommended a five-year contract with United Communications to provide a fiber optic connection between Bedford County Business Complex and the new justice center.

***Retirement

The committee recommended a resolution that would allow newly-hired employees to join Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System immediately rather than after a six-month waiting period, as is currently the case. Bedford is one of only five counties in the state that don’t allow immediate enrollment.