After the original budget is approved, the county legislative body may not make transfers between the major funds, such as school, highway, general, and debt service, but it may make budget amendments within funds during the course of the fiscal year. T.C.A. § 5-9-407. Timely revisions must be made because of the ever-changing factors that make up a budget.  Factors that influence decisions are (1) state and federal government programs that are added or terminated; (2) emergencies; and (3) higher cost items than originally estimated. When changes take place, the budget should be amended. These amendments should be made prior to any expenditure of funds, unless there is an emergency that could affect the health or safety of the public or employees.

Once the budget has been adopted, the budget, including line items and major categories, may be amended by majority vote of the county legislative body under T.C.A. § 5-9-407(b). 

There are two alternative methods for amending line items within a major category upon the written request of an official or department head.  Under the first alternative, amendments to line items, except those affecting personnel costs or those affecting the administrative costs of the county legislative body, may be approved in writing by the county mayor under T.C.A. § 5-9-407(d)(1) and if the mayor fails to approve the request, either the budget committee or the county legislative body may approve it.  The second alternative allows any line item amendment including personnel costs, and these requests are approved by the budget committee under T.C.A. § 5-9-407(d)(2); if the budget committee fails to approve the request, the county legislative body may approve it but the county mayor cannot.  Amendments made by either alternative method must be reported to the county legislative body.  These alternative methods cannot be used to approve an amendment that already has been rejected by the county legislative body.

It is recommended that budget amendments be presented to the legislative body or budget committee at least five working days before the meeting.

Under T.C.A. § 5-9-407(b)(3), the county legislative body has 40 days from the time it receives a proposed budget amendment from the local board of education to either approve or reject the amendment.  This requirement does not apply to Davidson, Hamilton, Knox or Shelby counties. 

Recommended Practice: County commission should allow authority in the appropriation resolution to move funds within a department (except salaries) with department head or county mayor approval.  Budget amendment forms vary from county to county.  Check with your county mayor, budget director, or finance director.

If your county operates under the Local Option Budgeting Law of 1993, amendments to major categories may be made with the approval of the county mayor or mayor’s appointed committee and a majority approval vote of the county legislative body. In addition, if the mayor or mayor’s appointed committee declines the major categories amendments or fails to take action on the amendment within 7 calendar days after written submission of amendment to mayor, then such amendment may be subsequently approved by 2/3 vote of the county legislative body. Please see Public Chapter 697 for more information.  In addition, all requests for a budget amendment by a county department or other entity be approved by a majority vote of the members appointed or elected to serve on the governing body of the department or entity seeking the amendment prior to it being submitted to the county legislative body for approval.  T.C.A. § 5-12-213.

Recommended Practice: Check your financial management/budgeting law.  Also, some counties are exempt from T.C.A. § 5-9-407.  We recommend that you check the statute to be sure it applies in your county.