At the Knox County Commission Budget Public Hearing here on May 12, less than 30 minutes over the spending of $1.1 BILLION budget, 3% higher than the previous year. Here is the link to the County’s proposed budget, only 54 pages. There will be a second and likely final Knox County Commission Budget Public Hearing on Monday May 19 at 3 pm in the Main Assembly Room of the City-County Building located at 400 West Main Street in Knoxville. If you would like to speak to Commissioners on Public Forum, the deadline to sign up to speak is Sunday May 18, 2025 at 4 p.m. In order to sign up you can call 865-215-2534 or email [email protected] I recommend both.

Knox County Commissioner Andy Fox asked questions about the Non Profit, Community Grants. In a year when the Knox County Mayor said that funds are scarce. In previous years, Knox County Sheriff’s Officers (Patrol and Corrections), Knox County School teachers and Knox County School staff have received significant salary increases, as they should have. However, the one and only group NOT to receive significant or comparable pay raises as the previous ones mentioned under County Mayor Jacobs regime are the general government employees.

So, you ask who are the general government employees?

Knox County Convenience Center employees, the ones dodging cars around dumpsters, helping citizens dispose of household trash and recycling. These employees work in 90 degree, 15 degree, rain, sleet all weathers.

Knox County Parks and Recreation employees, keeping the parks and public with usable open space, ballfields, splash pad operations. Also working outdoors in all weather related conditions.

Knox County Engineering and Public Works, the ones that cut grass along the county roads, remove downed trees from the county roads during and after inclement weather. Working 24/7/365 fixing a sinkhole in the North end of the county. Fixing pot holes on the roads as quick as they occur. In all weather conditions.

Knox County Library and Senior Center employees, the front line county employees for many of our Knox County citizens.

Here are graphics that show the highlights of budget and expenses.

Commissioner Andy Fox asked about the non-profit grants and the Hotel Motel Expenses, I have the scoring rubric for each (the review committee members are all listed below) More on the scoring later.

Here are the recipient organizations and groups of the non-profit grants, (a three year commitment) $1,909,000 annually. How significant would almost $2 million a year be in pay raises for the previous employee groups, I mentioned above?

The Hotel Motel Tax recipients.

Review Committee Panel Members

Janice Cook, Director of School Culture – Knox County Schools

Hannah Hinkle, Senior Program Manager – Knox County Grants & Community Development

Jenny Holden, Senior Director – Knox County Grants & Community Development *one that answers Commissioner Fox questions at the Budget Public Hearing

Michelle Moyers, Deputy Senior Director – Knox County Health Department

Kaki Reynolds, Director of East TN Collaborative – United Way of Greater Knoxville *it has been mentioned on social media that former Knox County Democrat Party leader CJ Butcher is employed at United Way of Greater Knoxville, a screenshot of his public Linked In is below, more than 3 years, he has been employed there.

Sharon Shanks, Community Service Director – Knox County Grants & Community Development

Ben Sharbel, Supervisor of Property Development & Asset Management – Knox County Procurement

below is the public LinkedIn of CJ Butcher, also references managing failed Democrat State Representative candidate and failed Presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg. It mentions he is out of politics, however according to this #BigMetalShedontheHill story from the dark allie, Butcher was Vice Chair of the Knox County Democrat Party and in June 2023 took over as Chairman. Vice Chair and Chair are the number 2 and 1 positions respectively of the local liberal organization.