If a town wasn't required to keep departments separated when it comes to budget matters, most of them wouldn't have the financial problems they are now facing.
Tellico Plains is one of those towns. The general fund had to be rescued by a loan from the Water Department last year, a move that wouldn't have been noticed if all the money the town took in could be used for what ever is needed.

But state laws require that towns keep things separate and a recent audit pointed out that while the town wasn't in the red, it isn't a good practice to borrow money while only having a few thousand dollars in the "rainy day fund."

Mayor Roger Powers took some exception to the audit during the town's March Mayor and Alderman meeting, saying it didn't show how much was done for the town simply through people's good will.
"It doesn't show (Alderman) Robert (Hamilton) coming out to haul a city car with his wrecker and not charging us anything," Powers said. "It doesn't show (Alderman) Harkey (Yates) letting the town use some of his equipment without any charge."

"We're a no frills operation, but we get the job done," Yates said. "It's been this way for 20 years and it's always worked fine. It's more about spending money wisely than raising taxes on people so we can build up our fund balance. If the federal government managed its money like we do, they probably wouldn't be $12 trillion in debt."

But Jamie Sisson, who was elected to the board last September, believes the town might be skating a little too close to the edge.
"We need a contingency plan so the general fund can get by in case a disaster happens in the Water Department," he said.

But like most politicians, those in Tellico Plains are opposed to tax increases, so Sisson suggested cutting the police budget, a proposal that went over like a lead balloon with the old guard.
"What would we cut?" Powers asked. "We've got to have a Police Department."
"I'm not saying tear down the Police Department," Sisson replied. "But there are costs that can be cut."
"Such as?" Powers asked.

"There were 714 working hours last year," Sisson said, "which is way too many, and we spent $50,000 on part-time officers."
"Those hours include the ICAC Officers," Power said, "which is paid for out of a grant, and the school resource officer which is half paid for by the county."

Police Chief Bill Isbell also stepped in, saying Sisson didn't know what he was talking about. "The problem is Jamie doesn't know anything about running a Police Department," he said. "He has no idea what we do or how we do it."
Powers then began asking Sisson about costs in the Fire Department, where Sisson also acts as chief, and like most political arguments that have no point, the talk ended and the board voted to accept the audit as it was presented.

In other business, the board didn't take any action on a notice from Waste Connections that garbage pick up fees would be increasing on April 1, going from $10.05 a customer to $10.94. Tellico structures its garbage pick so that anyone over 62 pays $7.20 a month, residential customers pay $11.20 and commercial pays $17.10, though most businesses have their own deal with Waste Connections.

The board tabled the motion until it could be decided what percentage each would need to be raised to cover the 94 cent increase.

michael.thomason@advocateanddemocrat.com | 442-4575