5/11/26 - Bradley County Commission Work Session

The Bradley County Commission held a work session on May 11, 2026, focusing primarily on budget discussions and public safety funding. A significant portion of the meeting addressed the veto by Governor Bill Lee of Senate Joint Resolution 0048, which proposed increasing the 911 surcharge from $1.50 to $1.86 to support emergency communication centers. The commission expressed disappointment over the veto, noting the potential loss of approximately $580,000 in annual revenue critical for equipment upgrades and staffing at the Bradley County 911 Center. The commission discussed plans to draft a resolution supporting reintroduction of the bill in the next legislative session. Additionally, the meeting reviewed the balanced budget for the general purpose schools fund, highlighting state and local revenue sources, salary increases, new positions, and capital outlay projects. The commission also discussed the Pie Center's lease revenue increases and upcoming capital projects funded through FEMA and TDMA awards. No motions or votes were taken during this session, but there was a suggestion to forward the budget for further review by the finance committee. Overall, the meeting centered on budget allocations, funding challenges, and procurement-related capital projects for the county and school system.