County Commissioner Joe Graham said the county is "going down a dangerous road" if the commission approves a resolution from Chairman Chester Bankston using $3,400 from the county's line of credit to buy a paint machine for Ooltewah High School.
"This is unprecedented. I am afraid of the effect it may have on the county's AAA bond rating," he said.
However, Commissioner Warren Mackey called it "money well spent. We need to keep these kids active."
He said he would like to start the conversation again about the commissioners getting $100,000 each per year in discretionary money. That practice ended this year when the Coppinger administration cut it from the budget and the commission did not move to restore it as it had the prior year.
Albert Kiser, county finance director, called it "certainly a good use of bond money."