LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Last night the City of LaFollette mayor, councilmen and department heads met to work toward finalizing the 2020-2021 budget.

The mayor, council members and department heads began working on the list to break down what was determined to be “needed” items. Items making the list were the software upgrade, two tornado sirens, two mowers for the recreation department and four police cars. Council discussed the possibility of funding those items through the fund balance account. The fire department requested fire hoses, nozzles and turn out gear, but they have requested the funds to purchase these items from the LaFollette Medical Board Foundation. The department hopes to have an answer prior to the final budget meeting. All other items on the wish list could be purchased with a new capital outlay in the fall, when one of the city’s existing capital outlay notes is paid. “All departments have been conservative and needful in requests. We have requests that can’t wait” said Councilman Bill Archer.

Items on the wish list started in the administrative department with a local government software update to the next generation, $20,000. Councilman Bill Archer requested two tornado sirens, $60,000. Fire department items were fire hoses, $10,000; nozzles, $8,500 and 12 sets of turnout gear, $24,000. The police department needs four new patrol cars, $160,000. A new boom mower truck, $130,000 and a one-ton truck, $45,000 were requested by the public works department. The largest wish list was from the recreation department. Those items were a 72” Exmark zero turn mower, $15,000; 48” walk behind mower, $6,000; a small storage building at the RV park, $5,000; three point sprayer for the ball field, $2,500; windows for the West LaFollette Community Center(materials and installation), $10,000; canopy at the West LaFollette Community Center, $12,000 and soffit for underneath the canopy, $6,000.

Council will meet again on June 25 at 5 pm to finalize the budget. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 06/12/2020-6AM)

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