Two Hamilton County discretionary funds returned

Hamilton County, TN (WDEF) – Two Hamilton County Commissioners gave their discretionary money back to the county Wednesday morning.

Mayor Jim Coppinger did not include the $100,000 payouts in his budget proposal, but commissioners took money out of the rainy day fund to restore their accounts in July.

However, Joe Graham and Marty Haynes returned their funds Wednesday.

Commissioner Joe Graham said, "I just think it is extremely disrespectful, to not only Hamilton County, but to district 3 and district 6, to try to highjack, steal, or redirect this money."

Commissoners debated whether to donate Haynes and Graham’s funds to Orange Grove Center, but in the end allowed the two commissioners to return the $200,000 to the rainy day fund.