NEWPORT-The Cocke County Legislative Body will consider approving the 2009-10 fiscal year budget at its regular monthly meeting, 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19.

Officials had considered calling a special meeting for a vote on the budget but decided during a Finance Committee meeting Tuesday night to wait for the regular meeting.

The proposed budget, which includes no tax increase nor raises for county employees, was approved by the Finance Committee last week.

Members agreed to remove 3 cents in funding from the Highway Department Budget to overcome a budget shortfall.

County Finance Director Anne Williams said Road Superintendent John Holloway questioned whether the reduced funds would impact the county's five-year rolling average, thus reducing state funding.

"I checked on that and we will be OK," she said. "It was very close. And, the state will withhold money dollar for dollar if you don't meet the five-year rolling average."

With an unappropriated fund balance of just more than $27,000, the largest area of concern for Williams is the possibility of unexpected costs.

"If we have any unanticipated issues, we would have problems," said Williams, who cited in particular costs surrounding juvenile court, where the county is now responsible for mental evaluations and hospitalization.

"You don't anticipate these things," said Williams. "But these could be expensive services. We have no resources to meet those things."

Should the CLB fail to the pass the budget, funding for the county school system could be in jeopardy.

Cocke County Mayor Iliff McMahan, however, said he thinks the CLB will pass a budget.

"This committee has worked very hard and I think we will come out of there with a budget," he said.

The CLB meeting will be in the Circuit Courtroom of the Cocke County Courthouse.