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PrintMIKE WEST
Courier Editor
Cannon County's Budget Committee met briefly Tuesday, November 22 to hear the latest report from the State Comptroller in regards to the county's budgetary problems.
"I need to explain what the Comptroller himself has told us," County Executive Mike Gannon told the panel during the informal meeting. "He wants a correction plan and it has to be done by the County Commission."
Gannon and Diane Hickman of the County Executive's Office met last week with Comptroller Justin P. Wilson who suggested an Overall Correction Plan for Cannon County.
"Diane and I met with the Comptroller. He wants a corrective plan ... which must be drafted and approved by the members of the County Commission only," Gannon said.
A five-year plan passed by the Roane County Commission was offered as an example. This plan gave Roane County five years to build a $1 million fund balance.
"This is key," Gannon said. "The Comptroller understood it took three or four years for us to get in this situation and that it will take three or four years to get out."
"We had a good fund balance at one time, but we had no way of protecting it," said Budget Chairman Mark Barker. "We need to get our cash balance built back up."
Barker said the Commission needs to focus on its General Fund and Solid Waste budgets.
Commissioner Glenn Steakley said the Comptroller's instructions are important and must be acted on by the Commission.
"The financial health of Cannon County rests solely in the hands of the County Commission," Steakley explained.
Commissioner Russell Reed suggested Commission members meet with Roane County Commissioners to seek input.
Gannon also suggested Commissioners hear a report from Commissioner Steakley on Lean 6 Sigma, a methodology that relies on a collaborative team effort to improve performance by removing waste.
"You don't want all of it." Steakley said, adding he had 10 years of extensive training on the corporate level and was willing to share key points with the Commission.
