A topic of discussion for Knoxville’s City Council recently has been the request by city management for an intern. City Manager Harold Stewart says Knoxville’s budget is balanced, and has approximately $112,000 in utility franchise fees available, as well as a surplus in the local option sales tax fund. Stewart says that the City of Knoxville last year built in 50% of the salary and 100% of the benefit costs for an intern that would be shared among city departments. The intern’s purpose would be high-level projects including improving the transparency of budget documents and a comprehensive annual financial report, which could also improve the city’s bond rating.