Commissioners vote down proposed property tax increase

June 24, 2019

During a meeting on the night of Monday, June 24, 2019, the Smith County Commission voted down the 59 cent property tax increase that was included in the county’s proposed 2019-2020 budget.

The 59 cent tax levy was unanimously recommended to the full commission by the Budget and Finance Committee. One commissioner from each district sits on this committee.

A motion to pass the 59 cent property tax increase was made by Charles Kent and seconded by Barbara Kannapel.

11 commissioners voted “Yes” and 12 commissioners voted “No” to the proposed property tax increase; therefore, the motion failed.

After the vote, Mayor Mason immediately entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting.

At the conclusion of the meeting, many citizens in attendance erupted into applause.

The county now has until August 31, 2019, to pass a budget.

Moving forward, the Budget and Finance Committee is expected to reconvene and attempt to recommend a new budget that will be passed by the commission.

The Smith County Commission will meet again on Monday, July 8, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. in the General Sessions Courtroom of the Smith County Jail and Courts Facility.

The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed live at facebook.com/smithcountyinsider.

You can watch the full June 2019 Meeting of the Smith County Commission below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkbeLE1ADL0

 

County Commissioners voted on the proposed property tax increase as follows:

District 1 – Pleasant Shade/Defeated/Difficult

  • Shannon Greene – No
  • Terry Givens – Yes
  • Glenn Reece – No

District 2 – Dixon Springs/Monoville/Tanglewood/Turkey Creek

  • Billy Bass – No
  • Greta Kirby – Yes
  • Jason Stewart – No

District 3 – New Middleton/Brush Creek/Hickman

  • James K. Winfree – Yes
  • Dalton Paschal – Yes
  • Daniel D. Cripps – No

District 4 – Rock City/Rome

  • Erika Ebel – No
  • Ron Shumake – Yes
  • Shannon Minchey – No

District 5 – Gordonsville/Lancaster/Hickman

  • Ronald G. Cowan – No
  • Linda Nixon – Yes
  • Colby McKinney – Yes

District 6 – Carthage

  • Barbara Kannapel – Yes
  • Charles Kent – Yes
  • Bill Reece – No

District 7 – South Carthage

  • Tommy Bane – Yes
  • Joseph E. Nixon – Yes
  • Dennis Hackett – No

District 8 – Chestnut Mound/Elmwood

  • David W. Gross – No
  • Frank Woodard – No

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