According to Roane County Executive Ron Woody, the annual county budget is ready for passage. The Roane County Budget Committee held their annual public hearing June 22, 2017 with only one public request. The hearing was followed by the budget committee making their final recommendations for the 2017-2018 budget. A lot of time with the budget committee meeting was devoted to discussion on the school building program and the potential timing of borrowing funds. The committee was given ample time to consider and amend the tax resolution if the school building plan desired to start in the 2018 fiscal year. No amendments were made. The committee discussed the fiscal/financial plan of the county and that because of the school debt being paid off in the 2022 budget available, revenue could be assigned to new debt or capital projects in the 2023 year. Additional revenues would be needed during this time frame allowing the project to start prior to or about 2019 or 2020. The biggest issues that the committee addressed regarding the potential school program was the timing of the project and interest would need to be paid beginning within 12 months of borrowing funds and both principal and interest would have to start being paid between 36 and 48 months.