Hamilton County budget passes as Sharpe is lone vote against

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) —  The Hamilton County budget was approved Wednesday.

It is a little over a billion dollars, and features additional money for paving, public safety, among other allocations.

It passed ten to one.

The one lone no vote was Commissioner David Sharpe.

He said that the budget in his vote in his view flies against the best interest of taxpayers.

Commissioner Sharpe said, “I fear that the result of this budget by any true objective measure makes county government less accountable, less transparent, and more open to waste and abuse.”

Other commissioners said that in their view, the budget was balanced and accomplished several goals despite a tight revenue year.

Commissioner Chip Baker said in his view, “This is the best budget we have passed in the seven years of county government I have been a part of.”