White County commissioners finally pass a budget for 2026

After months of deliberation and failed proposals, the White County Board of Commissioners has passed a budget for fiscal year 2026. The $1.41 property tax rate passed at a vote of 10-3, with one absence.

The commissioners who voted “yes” are as follows: Cain Rogers, Chris Brewington, David Cranford, Robert McCormick, Becky Golden, Dakota White, Derrick Hutchings, Roger Mason, Larry Daniels, and Kyle Goff.

The commissioners who voted “no” are as follows: T.K. Austin, Thomas Margeson, and Jordan Cocke. Lanny Selby was absent for the vote.

Commissioner Austin was the only commissioner that wanted to provide an explanation before voting, saying, “Due to the fact that it is nowhere near enough and an injustice to the county to pass this budget merely because we’re letting everything fall through the cracks yet again, my vote is no.”

When voting for the appropriation of funds for the county general funds, the vote was the same with one exception - Commissioner Austin voted yes for the appropriation of funds.

All commissioners voted yes for the appropriations for nonprofit and charitable organizations, except Kyle Goff who abstained as CEO of the Sparta and White County YMCA.

The commission also voted on an opioid abatement agreement resolution. Executive Denny Wayne Robinson offered details about the agreement.

“This particular resolution has to do with Purdue, and the Sackler family who apparently owns Purdue,” Robinson said. “They filed bankruptcy so we have to go back in and readjust it. This resolution also allows - there are eight more companies that have or in the process of filing bankruptcy also. This allows us to just agree to the terms of bankruptcy in the event that comes in the future.”

In June 2025, all attorneys general representing the United States signed a $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue, with Tennessee receiving more than $90 million. Local governments such as White County were asked to join the settlement contingent on bankruptcy court proceedings.

All commissioners voted yes for the Opioid Resolution. Part of the resolution states, “That White County finds that the amendments to the Tennessee Plan are in the best interest of White County and its citizens because they would ensure an effective structure for the commitment of Settlement Funds to abate and seek to resolve the opioid epidemic.”

During the audience recognition, there were a few notable speakers that came to the podium. One was Dewayne Howard, who announced he was running for state representative in the Tennessee House in the 43rd district. He said he would “not run against anybody. I’m going to run my own race, and I’m not going to get negative.”

Howard also said his reason for running: “You got to have a love for the community.”

Sheriff Steve Page also spoke during the audience recognition, where he addressed his concerns with O.T. Jones Crossroads at the crossroad of Old Kentucky Road and Smithville Highway. Last week, two wrecks occurred the same day, just four hours apart, at O.T. Jones.

“I need your help to fix the issue we have at Old Kentucky and Highway 70,” Sheriff Page said. “We’ve got to do something. We’re having wrecks down there all the time. I’ve called everybody I know to call, beg, do everything I know to do. We need to come together and figure something out before somebody else gets killed.”

Chairman Hutchings mentioned how the commission sent a resolution before, but the state sent it back. The chairman also asked what the sheriff would recommend, and he gave a few suggestions such as red lights or rumble strips.

Commissioner Rogers brought up that the state wanted the county to pay for the study if the county believes the road is an issue. Commissioner Mason also asked if the county would have legal authority to put a stop light there, but, since the roads are state roads, the county could not make that decision on their own.

After a bit more discussion, the topic was put down for Steering Committee A during the October committee meetings.

The next full court meeting will be Sept. 15. All County Commission meetings are open for public view and livestreamed on the White County TN Commission website.