ATHENS, Tenn. — McMinn County commissioners docked the county schools $10,000 before voting 6-4 to adopt a $63 million budget Monday night. The property tax rate will remain at $1.55 per $100 of assessed value.

Commissioners indicated the cut was payback for the McMinn County Board of Education’s decision to pay new Director of Schools David Pierce $10,000 more than his predecessor, Dr. John Forgety.

Mr. Pierce has a signed contract and salary, so the commission will take the money from a $1.2 million capital fund.

This was the second vote on the 2008-09 budget. Commissioners failed to pass the budget a month ago because of the dispute over Mr. Pierce’s pay. Monday, some commissioners said they still didn’t like the salary but voted to approve the budget anyway.

“I don’t agree with a $10,000 raise, but either way we vote the contract has been signed and he still gets the raise,” Commissioner Jeanie King said.

Commissioner Jack Powers said he also opposed the raise. “But we have to pass a budget,” Mr. Powers said.

Some commissioners said they should require the school board to specify how it will spend its capital funds.

Though commissioners legally cannot dictate how the school board spends general funds, capital funds are given at the commission’s discretion.

County Mayor John Gentry said he hopes the difference of opinion between the majority of the commission members and the school board does not affect a cooperation previously enjoyed by both parties.

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