KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Knox County's mayor and commissioners are carrying a lot more baggage, and a lot fewer options into the debate over how to spend your tax dollars this coming fiscal year.

The mayor's plan calls for no new taxes, or lay-offs.

Knox County's first new high school in more than a quarter century -- Hardin Valley Academy --symbolizes more than growth. It’s also Mike Ragsdale's signal of which spending matters most.

Knox County School Board member Robert Bratton says, “We're increasing the school funding without the anticipated nine million dollars we had hoped for, for phase two of the Basic Education Plan. I am relieved. I really thought it'd be two and a half million dollars less.”

To give schools more than $12 million extra, Mayor Ragsdale proposes cutting $6 million from other county departments and services.

But some School Board Members wonder whether the extra gives them enough to keep up.

Board member Indya Kincannon says, “Step increases and the price of gas and other things --when we measure those things we thought were mandatory increases, I think it was a little bit more than twelve million.”

Ragsdale says, “We're going to have to scale back our capital plans, lagging
tax revenues require it.”

The Mayor says four major projects will build out.

Among them: the renovation and expansion of Powell Middle school.

The sheriff could replace 38 cruisers, keep the recruit class, and the County's contribution for the deputies’ new, much more generous pension plan.

Knox County Sheriff Jimmy "JJ" Jones says, “...Is a compromise position, and we feel comfortable with what we have and we'll be able to protect the citizens of Knox County.”

Ragsdale says, “There'll be no layoffs in Knox County.”

In fact, by the Mayor's math, there's enough for small raises, if Commissioners agree to freeze hiring for six months.

Ragsdale says, “We're hoping that revenues will stay on plane so the budget will work…They were realistic numbers.”

Which depend, Knox County's Commission Chairman admits on how much longer the economy remains weak.

Governor Bredesen's based Tennessee's cutting on the gut feeling the recession's nowhere near over.

Ragsdale says, “If the recession goes on past December, well next budget time, we'll just have to make some adjustments.”

Some commissioners say programs depending on grant money will feel the most pain. They’ll either getting less, or none at all -- with new rules, and new gatekeepers aimed at making sure nobody's got extra clout.

Commissioners haven't set the dates for budget hearings yet.

That could come Monday.

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- No new taxes, some small pay raises, and more money for schools to make up for what they won't be getting from Nashville -- at first look, Knox County's proposed spending plan isn't nearly as tight or troubled as Tennessee's.

Big changes from last year, a year in which County Mayor Mike Ragsdale has faced major questions about how he and his staff have spent tax dollars on things other than defined services -- i.e. the p-card and travel scandals.

Ragsdale says, "It was both frustrating and challenging to try to match
our rapidly increasing expenses with our rapidly declining revenues."

Nevertheless, the mayor insists the money inflow is solid and thick enough that he proposes spending more than $640 million in the next fiscal year.

Almost all of the new money -- roughly $12.5 million -- will go into
Knox County public schools.

Monday, Gov. Bredesen said districts shouldn't expect extra state money, thanks to Tennessee's half billion dollar deficit.

Mayor Ragsdale's plan wouldn't replace that. In fact, he's expecting other county departments to take hits.

Knox County School Board member Robert Bratton says, "He's done everything, just from his speech--I've gotta look at the Budget numbers -- to spare us where he can. It's better than I thought It'd be...The hiring freeze will help, we'll cut our operational expenses in a number of areas. That's going to be difficult for department directors and other elected officials, but I'm confident we can make it happen."

The plan would give county employees two percent raises, but would freeze hiring for six months.

A few high-profile projects will be finished, which may explain why the mayor chose the new Hardin Valley High School Academy as the site for his speech. Symbolism matters.

County commissioners still need to hold hearings on all of this.