Legislators announce appropriations
for Carter County
From Staff Reports
State Representative Ralph Cole and Senator Rusty
Crowe announced Monday that during the fiscal year 2001-2002
Carter County will receive approximately $70.8 million of
state appropriations. Carter County also will receive a portion
of the $7.1 billion in federal funds included in Tennessee's
$19.5 billion budget as adopted by the 102nd General Assembly.
Listed appropriations for Carter County include
$27.3 million for K-12 and higher education; $10.3 million
in shared state collections; $24.9 million for health and
social services; $2.2 million for justice and public safety;
$2.2 million for recreation and resource development; and
$1.8 million for state highway projects. Cole and Crowe say
the remaining $700,719 is for miscellaneous items.
"The major portion of school funds is allocated
to the Basic Education Program, which now funds teachers'
salaries, capital outlay, pupil transportation, textbooks,
teachers' sick leave, teachers' retirement, teachers' aides,
and additional instructional material," Cole said.
Cole and Crowe also said that health and social
services appropriations benefiting county residents include
$800,257 for Human Services programs; $359,081 for Community
Mental Health programs; $1.01 million for Children's Services;
and $22 million for TennCare.
"I think Carter County fared well in this budget
considering the limited resources available," Cole said.
Although the funds have been appropriated, there
is no guarantee the money will be there when local offices
go to collect. Whether or not the money will be available
depends mainly on revenue collections.
"These figures represent the best estimate at
this time and will materialize if state revenues are collected
as expected," Cole said.
