The Knox County Board of Commissioners budgeted $108 million in appropriations with revenues projected at $97.7 million during its Jan. 8 meeting.
According to a meeting video, County Administrator Jason Booth presented the commissioners with non-general fund budgets after they had already adopted the general fund budget. He said that while the commissioners do not have direct oversight over these funds, they must approve the final budget. The total non-general fund budget was set at $64.7 million.
Booth detailed various allocations within the budget. The Knox County Job and Family Services budget was reported to be slightly over $14.1 million, with public assistance accounting for $6.7 million of that amount. The Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities was allocated approximately $10 million, while capital improvements were budgeted at $9.8 million. The Knox County Engineer's department received a budget allocation of $9.2 million.
Booth further explained that the total budget for Knox Public Health, including both general and non-general funds, will be $14.7 million. He mentioned that the Knox Dog Kennel was allocated a budget of $422,500 and discussed with Knox County Dog Warden Brian Diggerstaff their decision not to use the animal care fund for expenses in 2026 to allow it to grow through additional donations.
Additionally, Booth noted that the 911 Dispatch budget was set at a flat $2.6 million: "We did have some increases in compensation due to the labor union contract, but that was really offset by we no longer have any debt," he said. The savings from not having to pay off a $35,000 debt will cover salary increases.
