NEWPORT-Following Finance Committee cuts to the proposed 2009-10 Highway Department Budget, Cocke County Road Superintendent John Holloway is concerned how his department will operate during the fiscal year.

The Finance Committee of the Cocke County Legislative Body voted to take three cents of funding from the Highway Department earlier this month in an effort to balance the General Fund Budget. One penny equals $47,056 in funding.

With a fund balance in the Highway Budget of just more than $20,000, Holloway told road commissioners Tuesday night there is no room for error.

"We'll just be grading, graveling, mowing and patching holes," said Holloway. "If anything goes wrong, we'll be in trouble.

"If we have another spike in fuel prices, you'll just have to close down," said Commissioner Kenny Hall.

"If fuel does go crazy, we might have a little wiggle room," added Holloway.

One area of the Highway Department Budget suffering a major cut was for shooting and chipping.

"We've already spent $75,000 of that," said Holloway. "About all we've got left is money for patching holes.

"We've worked so hard to get rid of gravel roads. I hate to stop shooting and chipping. Since I came in, we've probably eliminated 150 miles of gravel roads.

"They cut some of the line items," Holloway continued. "On our travel, I pay a lot out of my pocket. If we stop to eat, I personally pay for everyone's meal. I feel like they're penalizing us for using our money wisely."

Holloway said the Highway Department has tried to be frugal and has repeated been forced to cut back.

"When I came here in 1998, we had 52 employees," he said. "Now we're at 42. We've also reduced our workdays."

"Plus, we laid off people last winter," added Administrative Assistant Tammy Holdway.

Holloway said the Road Commission could consider taking legal action to try and get more funding.

"But I'm not sure we would win," he said. "I don't even know if we could afford to pay for a lawyer."

Chairman Ronald Blazer said he did not favor taking legal action and fellow commissioners agreed to not pursue that avenue.

"They said they will put the money back in next year," said Holloway. "I don't know how they're going to do it but I hope they do."

In other business Tuesday, commissioners approved a work plan for the next two weeks.