CARTHAGE, TN – The clock is ticking on the search for the next Smith County Director of Schools. During their regular meeting on Tuesday night, the Smith County Board of Education voted to officially post for the hiring of the next Director of Schools. This comes as the board prepares to replace current Director Barry Smith, whose contract ends this coming June. Board members briefly discussed modifying the qualifications during the meeting but ultimately decided against it. “This satisfies everything we need to have,” noted Board Chairman Tommy Manning during the discussion, pointing out that the current policy meets all state requirements. The Board has planned a tentative timeline with a goal to bring in the next director by April. Applications are open and will be accepted through 3:00PM on January 12, 2026. Once the application window closes, the board will review all the applications and conduct the first round of interviews on Saturday, February  28th, starting at 9:00AM After the first round of interviews, the candidate field will be narrowed down for a second round of interviews in March. The plan is to make a decision and have the new director working in the central office in April to help the new director get up to speed before officially taking the reins on July 1. As with previous searches, interviews will be open to the public. Although only Board members will directly ask question of candidates during the interview sessions, the Board typically compiles interview questions in advance and may consider input and suggestions from parents, teachers, and the community. All applications for the Director of Schools position will go through their attorney rather than the central office. Attorney Robin Moore’s office will receive and vet the applications to ensure candidates meet the position’s qualifications before passing them on to the board. The qualification for the Director of School’s position are as follows: •    Professional educator’s license •    Master’s degree in education (Doctorate preferred) •    Three years of experience in school administration Applications may be found on the Board of Education’s website at https://www.smithcoedu.com

Nashville, TN — Republican gubernatorial candidate John Rose has once again demonstrated
his grassroots momentum, winning the Lewis County Republican Party’s gubernatorial straw
poll in convincing fashion. Rose took first place by a 31-point margin when the results were
announced by Tennessee Republican State Executive Committee member, Chris Morris: John
Rose with 55%, State Representative Monty Fritts with 24% and United States Senator Marsha
Blackburn with 21%.

Rose’s victory in Lewis County comes on the heels of his August win in Lawrence County,
where he defeated Blackburn by a margin of 60% to 35%, with approximately 5% of votes cast
as write-ins.

“As a farmer and former Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture, I’m proud of my rural roots
and love connecting with everyday Tennesseans, one-on-one,” Rose said. “The people of
Tennessee know that our state needs a governor who shares their values and understands the
importance of agriculture, small business, and conservative leadership.”

The Lewis County result underscores Rose’s strong connection with rural voters, a decisive
force in Tennessee Republican politics. In 2018, the rural vote propelled 7th generation
Tennessean and farmer Bill Lee to a 12-point upset victory in the Republican gubernatorial
primary over two well-funded, big-city candidates. Rural voters are connecting with John Rose
over his background as a farmer and lifelong Tennessean.

Lewis County is yet another bellwether for Republican primary sentiment. The county has been
represented by Marsha Blackburn for more than 14 years, first as a U.S. House member and
now as a U.S. Senator. Rose’s ability to win handily in both Lawrence and Lewis Counties is a
window to the broad appeal of his candidacy outside his congressional district and highlights the
strength of his grassroots-driven campaign.

The straw poll was conducted by officers of the Lewis County Republican Party for registered
guests of the sold-out 2025 Lewis County Reagan/Trump Dinner in Hohenwald, TN. The final
tally was Rose 82 votes, Fritts 36 votes, and Blackburn 32 votes.

Since announcing his campaign for Governor on March 20, 2025, at the Tennessee State
Fairgrounds, Rose has built the largest campaign war chest in the race—reporting over $6.1
million raised through June 30 with donations from all 95 counties in Tennessee. His
conservative record in Congress, strong support from President Trump, and deep agricultural
roots are fueling his statewide rise ahead of the August 2026 primary.

To learn more about John Rose’s campaign for Governor, visit johnrose.com

Carthage, TN — August 26, 2025 — The Smith County Republican Party Executive Committee has officially called for a Republican primary in the 2026 local elections and has submitted its letter of intent to the Smith County Election Administrator.

Previously, concerns were raised about the cost of a local primary, which at that time was funded by the county. However, since then, the Tennessee General Assembly has allocated state funds to cover the expenses of conducting local primaries—just as it already does for the presidential preference primary. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office has confirmed that sufficient funds are available to cover the entire cost of administering the 2026 Republican primary in Smith County, ensuring that no taxpayer dollars from Smith County will be required.

“Our committee believes that Smith County voters should have the opportunity to elect candidates who represent the values of the Republican Party,” said Jon Henry, Chairman of the Smith County Republican Party. “With the state covering the cost, this primary gives elected officials and voters a real choice while protecting the county from unnecessary expenses.”

The Republican primary will be held Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Early voting will run from April 15, 2026 through April 30, 2026. Candidate qualifying deadlines and additional voting information will be announced by the Smith County Election Commission.

For more information and updates, please visit www.fb.com/SmithCoRepParty.

Smith County Sheriff Steve Hopper has officially announced his candidacy for re-election in the May 2026 Republican Primary.

Sheriff Hopper, a 1978 graduate of Smith County High School, lives in the Riddleton community with his wife, Donna (Nesbitt). Together they have four children — Michael, Stephanie and her husband Craig West, Charlie, and Joel and his wife Jessica Lafferty — along with six grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Hopper’s commitment to public service began in the early 1980s as a member of the Smith County Rescue Squad, where he also served as treasurer. He went on to serve with the Central District Volunteer Fire Department, including time as Fire Chief until 2020, and worked as a paramedic with the Smith County Ambulance Service.

In 1995, Hopper began his law enforcement career with the Carthage Police Department as a patrol officer after graduating from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy. He was promoted to Sergeant, then to Chief of Police in 2003, a position he held until his election as Smith County Sheriff in 2010. Over his career, he has received numerous specialized certifications.

Currently, Sheriff Hopper serves on the Finance Committee for the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association and on the Board of Directors for the 15th Judicial District Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force. He is also a graduate of the Smith County Adult Leadership Class of 2014 and a retired member of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police.

Reflecting on his time as Sheriff, Hopper stated that he and his staff have worked hard to uphold honesty, integrity, and professionalism while staying within budget and maintaining the safety of the community.

“These past years serving as your Sheriff has been an honor and a privilege,” Hopper said. “If re-elected, I will continue to conduct the Office of Sheriff in a manner that serves all Smith County residents fairly and equally. I humbly ask for your vote and support in the May 2026 Republican Primary.”

Nashville, TN — John Rose defeated Senator Marsha Blackburn in the first straw poll of the contested Tennessee gubernatorial republican primary by a margin of 60.8% to 35.2% with write-in votes accounting for 4%. John’s grassroots driven campaign has seen a groundswell of support from local GOP activists across Tennessee. The poll was held at the sold-out Lawrence County Republican Reagan Dinner in Loretto and was overseen by the chairman of the Lawrence County Election Board of Commissioners using an electronic voting machine.

The win is a notable bellwether in the race. Lawrence County has been represented by Marsha Blackburn for more than 14 years, first as a U.S. House member and now as a U.S. Senator. The rural county is less familiar with Rose, as it is located more than 100 miles from the nearest

point in Rose’s House District. Voters in the poll chose Rose nonetheless, whose background as a Trump-supporting farmer and small business owner resonated with the crowd.

“I am honored to have won this straw poll and it shows what I have seen all across our state. Republicans are looking for a principled conservative with executive experience who can defend our Tennessee values,” said Republican gubernatorial candidate John Rose.

Since launching his campaign for Governor on March 20, John Rose has reported over $6.1 million through June 30, the largest campaign war chest for a Tennessee gubernatorial candidate at this point in the race. The campaign received support from every corner of the state, with donations from Tennesseans in all 95 counties. That broad base of early support is part of Rose’s strategy for victory in the August 2026 primary.

Rose announced his candidacy for Governor on March 20, 2025, at the site of the Tennessee State Fair in Wilson County. His conservative record in Congress, mutual support with President Trump, and deep roots in Tennessee agriculture have helped him gain strong support from voters across the state. To learn more about the campaign, visit johnrose.com.

Wednesday, August 6th, Nashville, TN – Statement from Campaign Chair, Chris Devaney: 

“John and Senator Blackburn have a mutual respect. Like most Tennessee Republicans, John has voted to keep Senator Blackburn in Washington.

But Tennessee is at a crossroads and now we get to have a 365-day conversation about who would make the best CEO of the state. Senator Blackburn is going to talk a lot about Washington. John is going to talk about his record as a CEO, an outsider, and a reformer.

This is going to be a great debate about the future of Tennessee. With a six month head start, John Rose has made a lot of new friends across the state and raised an historic level of resources that will put us on a path to victory.” 

To learn more about our campaign, visit JohnRose.com.

Carthage, TN — The Smith County Republican Party is proud to host the 2025 Reagan Dinner on Friday, July 25, at the Smith County Ag Center, located at 159 Ag Center Lane, Carthage. The event will begin at 6:00 PM and feature Congressman Tim Burchett as the keynote speaker.

This year’s Reagan Dinner will also welcome special guests including Smith County Mayor Jeff Mason,State Representative Michael Hale, and Senator Paul Bailey. The evening will be a celebration of conservative values, community engagement, and political insight as leaders from across the region gather to connect with local citizens.

Tickets are available for purchase via the QR code on the flyer attached or by visiting the Smith County Republican Party’s Facebook page at www.fb.com/SmithCoRepParty. 

For more information and updates, please visit www.fb.com/SmithCoRepParty.

June 23, 2025

WASHINGTON, DC—On Monday, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) applauded his House colleagues for passing his vital legislation to improve the homebuying process for millions of Americans. H.R.2808, the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act, would dramatically reduce the number of unwanted calls and messages that follow applying for a mortgage in the United States.

The legislation passed by a voice vote.

Currently, credit bureaus are notified when a consumer applies for mortgage financing. That information (which is referred to as a trigger lead) is then often sold by the credit bureaus to data brokers and other lenders without the consumer’s knowledge or approval. Consumers are then often bombarded with hundreds of unwanted solicitations. 

Rep. Rose released the following statement after the bill’s passage:

“Buying a home is a fundamental part of the American Dream,” Rep. Rose said. “Unfortunately, the process has become more of a nightmare due to abusive mortgage trigger leads. I want to thank my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for supporting my bill. It will no doubt benefit millions of Americans.”

The legislation was co-led by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and garnered more than 80 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle. The legislation is also bicameral. The U.S. Senate version of the bill, introduced by Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Jack Reed (D-RI), passed the chamber just last December. It was reintroduced in April. 

Background:

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act would amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to prohibit a credit reporting bureau from furnishing a trigger lead unless an individual chooses to opt-in while also preserving the use of trigger leads in appropriately limited circumstances. 

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act is supported by a broad coalition of financial trades and consumer groups, including the Independent Community Bankers of America, Mortgage Bankers Association, Tennessee Bankers Association, National Association of Mortgage Brokers, American Bankers Association, and the Broker Action Coalition. You can find some of their statements of support here.

U.S. Representative John Rose is currently serving his fourth term representing Tennessee’s Sixth Congressional District and resides on his family farm in Lancaster with his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons, Guy and Sam. The Sixth District includes Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, and White counties as well as portions of Davidson, Scott, Warren, and Wilson counties. Representative Rose is an eighth-generation farmer, small business owner, and attorney.

The Carthage City Council held its monthly meeting on June 5, 2025. Several items were discussed. Watch the full meeting above.

Thanks to Teresa’s Gifts for sponsoring Smith County Insider’s live broadcast of this meeting.

Subscribe to Smith County Insider’s YouTube channel to stay up-to-date on meeting coverage, business spotlights, video features, and more!

The Carthage City Council generally meets at 6:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at Carthage City Hall, located at 314 Spring Street in Carthage, Tennessee – 37030.

All meetings are open to the public and streamed live at https://www.facebook.com/smithcountyinsider/.

The Gordonsville City Council held its monthly meeting on Monday, June 9, 2025.

You can watch the full council meeting above.

Subscribe to Smith County Insider’s YouTube channel to stay up-to-date on meeting coverage, business spotlights, video features, and more!

The Gordonsville City Council meets at 6:15 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at Gordonsville City Hall, located at 63 Main Street in Gordonsville.

All meetings are open to the public and streamed live at https://www.facebook.com/smithcountyinsider/.

Thursday, John Rose, an eighth-generation Tennessean, lifelong farmer, and small business owner, was surrounded by hundreds of supporters as he announced his candidacy for Governor of Tennessee at the Wilson County Fairgrounds. The location is emblematic of Rose’s rural roots. As a volunteer, he chaired the Tennessee State Fair Association for more than 10 years.

Rose spoke about his family’s long history in Tennessee—going back to 1790—and the lessons he learned growing up on his family’s farm. He declared his commitment to preserving Tennessee’s unique heritage of faith and perseverance, supporting Tennessee’s often neglected rural and agricultural communities, protecting family values, and creating economic prosperity for all. 

Rose has been endorsed by President Trump in each of his successful bids for Congress, beginning in 2018. As a staunch supporter of President Trump, Rose pledged to stand with him in empowering states, stripping Washington’s power, and upholding conservative values. 

“Washington DC’s values are not our values,” John Rose declared. “We are fiercely independent and we plan to keep it that way. President Trump is shrinking the federal government and reducing bureaucracy, which gives power back to the states. We helped put President Trump back in office so that he would end the DC power trip. He’s getting the job done and as Governor, I’ll stand with him, just as I have since his first election in 2016.”

Rose cited several priorities:

• Giving Tennessee children the education they deserve and giving their parents a seat at the table. Rose committed to appointing a current or former Tennessee teacher as Commissioner of Education.
• Expanding and improving Tennessee’s roadways.
• Making quality healthcare and mental healthcare accessible for all Tennesseans, including rural communities.
• Making Tennessee a leader in energy production — particularly nuclear energy.
• Protecting unborn life, serving vulnerable children, and making adoption easier.
• Protecting our Second Amendment rights and enacting Constitutional Carry.

Rose has prioritized visiting all 95 counties, as he emphasizes personally connecting with Tennesseans to listen, learn, and hear their concerns. The campaign will have strong footing with $5 million already committed toward the effort.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee delivered his seventh State of the State address and presented budget and legislative priorities for the upcoming year to a joint session of the General Assembly and fellow Tennesseans.

Key highlights are noted below, and the full speech as prepared for delivery can be found here. A Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget overview can be found here.

Our state’s legacy of responsible fiscal stewardship places Tennessee in a strong budgetary position and allows for investments to secure continued success. Lee’s proposed $59.5 billion budget includes strategic funding to ensure economic and educational opportunity, strengthen families, preserve our natural resources, and more.

Notable highlights from Gov. Lee’s FY25-26 agenda include:

Economic Opportunity + Tax Relief

• $35.6 million investment in Tennessee’s Rainy Day Fund, bringing Tennessee reserves to nearly $2.2 billion, the largest in state history
• $7 million to expand the Tennessee Youth Employment Program to operate year-round, double its participation, and reach even more underserved communities
• $45.8 million for Rural Development Grant Fund to enhance Tennessee’s rural and distressed communities through site development, community asset improvements, strategic planning and downtown revitalization
• $25 million for FastTrack grants to recruit new business to Tennessee and support workforce development
• $6.3 million to create a statewide Micro-Credentialing Program to develop short-term, targeted certifications that equip Tennesseans with high-demand skills identified by industry and state partners

• $25 million to expand the RevV Program to connect private companies with Tennessee’s research institutions to drive research and development and job creation
• $5 million to create TN Accelerates, a partnership between Tennessee Economic and Community Development and the Department of Labor and Workforce to create customized workforce training programs tailored to the specific needs of incoming and existing businesses
• $5 million for the Tennessee Entertainment Commission to fund incentive grants to strengthen Tennessee’s music and film industry
• $10 million for the Rural Grant Opportunity Fund to match funding for at-risk and distressed counties seeking state and federal grants
• $10 million for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Matching Funds to match federal funds assisting Tennessee startups in securing competitive research and development grants

Housing + Infrastructure

• $1 billion to the Tennessee Department of Transportation to address the state’s infrastructure needs, including expediting existing road projects and funding new projects across rural and urban Tennessee
• $60 million to create the Starter Home Revolving Loan Fund to support construction of new, affordable starter homes for hardworking Tennesseans, prioritizing rural communities
• $30 million to fund the Rural and Workforce Housing Tax Credit, making it easier to build homes and businesses

Disaster Relief

During the special legislative session in January 2025, Gov. Lee and the General Assembly appropriated more than $450 million in direct disaster relief as part of a comprehensive plan to support ongoing recovery efforts and allow for proactive preparation for future emergencies. Gov. Lee’s proposed FY25-26 budget includes the following additional investments:

• $4 million to implement and maintain a Mesonet system, which will monitor weather-related and flooding threats in the state
• $3 million to upgrade TEMA’s regional response vehicles

Education

Public Education Investments

• $198.4 million for teacher bonuses in recognition of their hard work and dedication and for leading the nation in student achievement and growth
• $244 million to strengthen education through the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) formula growth, including teacher pay raises
• $62.7 million for K-12 infrastructure and facilities funding
• $27.3 million for summer learning programs to support students between school years
• $25 million further investment in the Fast Growth Fund, to support fast-growing districts
• $17 million for Grade A School Grants
• $10 million to provide paid parental leave for Local Educational Agency employees

Expanding Choices for Tennessee Parents

• $145.9 million for Education Freedom Scholarships, to empower parents with the freedom to pick the right school for their child and have a say in where their tax dollars are spent – regardless of income or zip code

Higher Education

• $12 million to create the TennesseeWORKS Scholarship, a new award that will cover every penny of Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) tuition and fees for all students while relieving the extra cost burden of tools and equipment for those most in-need
• $52.8 million to fully fund the outcomes-based funding formula, which may be used for program improvements that assist higher education institutions in meeting outcomes including student progression, degree production, research and service, efficiency metrics, and other measures related to institutional mission
• $2.27 million to develop Tennessee Board of Regents’ Center for Workforce Development to expand workforce training for businesses and industries, including specialized onboarding and apprenticeship programs, in partnership with TN Accelerates
• $2 million to create a common application system for Tennessee’s community colleges, streamline student transfer, and implement a statewide customer relationship management system to enhance student outreach and support

Strong + Healthy Families

• $95.5 million utilizing Shared Savings to enhance long term care services and supports for older adults and people living with disabilities
• $41 million to support the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) with placement of children within the provider network
• $7.2 million to expand the WAGE$ Program and reduce turnover in Tennessee’s childcare workforce by increasing pay and rewarding greater education
• $5.9 million to cover childcare for more working families through an expansion of the Smart Steps Child Care Program and ease the benefits cliff
• $24 million to continue a Department of Health pilot program to address unmet dental service needs and increase the number of dentists in Tennessee
• $11.8 million to reduce waitlists in the OPTIONS and Senior Nutrition programs
• $10.9 million to expand programming at the Boys & Girls Club of Tennessee
• $5 million to increase bed capacity at the Middle Tennessee Regional Mental Health Institute
• $3 million for a partnership between Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) to provide additional support services for children in DCS care with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Safe Neighborhoods

During the special legislative session in January 2025, Gov. Lee and the General Assembly passed a robust legislative agendaand appropriated $5 million to prepare Tennessee to assist in implementation of the Trump Administration’s illegal immigration policies. Gov. Lee’s proposed FY25-26 budget includes the following additional public safety investments:

• $130 million further investment in the Violent Crime Intervention Fund to support local law enforcement and local jurisdictions through grants to fund evidence-based strategies to improve public safety
• $75 million to establish Downtown Public Safety grants to increase public safety in downtown areas with businesses and commercial activity
• $38 million in funding for an additional 117 State Troopers and related support staff to improve public safety across the state
• $5 million to further expand the Statewide School Resource Officer (SRO) Program Grant, which places SROs in each K-12 public school and public charter school in Tennessee
• $3.7 million in funding for an additional 22 TBI positions to support victim services, intelligence analysis, aviation, security, Medicaid fraud enforcement, and administration
• $1.3 million in additional funding for Houses of Worship Security Grants
• $1 million to expand the school-based behavioral health liaison program, giving students across Tennessee schools important resources and mental health support

Conservation

• $100 million to execute a comprehensive regional water resource plan to ensure long-term water needs are met while protecting the ecological health of the Duck River
• $52 million to create five new Tennessee State Parks, with the goal of funding a total of eight new state parks by the time Gov. Lee leaves office, setting the Tennessee record for the most state parks created by one administration
• $6.2 million to address maintenance needs at Tennessee State Parks, preventing a backlog of deferred maintenance
• $40 million for environmental cleanup, including creation of a comprehensive water resource management plan in the Duck River region, state water revolving fund projects and electric grid enhancement
• $30 million to aid Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s capital outlay and maintenance needs

Agriculture

• $25 million to create a Farmland Conservation Fund
• $20 million in additional funding for the Agricultural Enterprise Fund and Agricultural Enhancement Fund, both of which are utilized to aid Tennesseans in creating and expanding agricultural, food and forestry businesses and make long-term strategic investments in rural communities

Energy

• $50 million to create the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Grant Fund to support Tennessee Valley Authority’s Clinch River Nuclear SMR project to position Tennessee as a leader in next-generation nuclear energy
• $10 million further investment in the Nuclear Energy Fund to attract advanced nuclear technology companies
• $2.6 million to develop the nation’s first regulatory framework for commercial nuclear fusion power
• $10 million further investment in Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) to support nuclear workforce education, as recommended by the Nuclear Energy Advisory Council
• $20 million for the Federal Grant Matching Fund, to support proposals from Tennessee universities and businesses applying for research funding from federal agencies like the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy

Voters had the opportunity to cast ballots in a variety of races during the November 5, 2024 election, including President, US, Senate, US Congress, State Representative and several more.

Polls were open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and voters had the opportunity to vote early from October 16 – 31 or by absentee ballot.

Below is a PDF of the election results for the November 5, 2024 Election.

Use the up and down arrows at the top and bottom of the PDF to scroll between pages.

0 of 8 Precincts have reported, including early and absentee votes

Both County Mayor Jeff Mason and the Smith County Board of Education have recently released statements about the upcoming vote on the county’s 2024-2025 budget. The commission is set to meet on Monday, August 12 at 7pm to vote on the budget. Live coverage of the meeting can be found on Smith County Insider’s Facebook page.

Below is a statement from Smith County Mayor, Jeff Mason:

I hope you all are enjoying your Friday! As promised, here are my thoughts on the Board of Education Budget that will be discussed and voted on Monday night.

The Budget Committee voted twice to reject the BOE’s budget. The next step is the full commission on Monday night.

I personally support raises for all employees and insurance for non-certified employees. The BOE has the revenues to support them. They have repeatedly stated that they are not asking for anything new from the county. While that is true in principle, I am against the total expenditure they are asking for. In my opinion, the numbers do not add up.

The Board of Education’s final expenditures number for the 23-24 budget year was $30,700,000. Their originally approved 23-24 budget was $32,287,282, which makes expenditures $1.5 million less than the original budget. The board did ask for amendments to the budget in June 2024, and they were approved. This made the final budgeted number $33,294,412. That makes the difference between expenditures and the amended budget at $2.5 million.

A 12% raise was announced and approved in August 2023. The numbers show they already had the money in their budget. They are asking for another 10% raise for all employees and insurance for non-certified employees. The original budget ask in May for the 24-25 fiscal year was for total expenditures in the amount of $40,960,550. That is an 8.5 million dollar increase in requested expenditures from last year’s original budget.

They did come back and cut 1.8 million out of that, so it’s a little less than a 7-million-dollar increase. They took a discussion during a budget meeting and twisted my words. I did say 1.8 was a number to start with but that was inside one salary line. And a commissioner said 37 million dollars was closer to the number and I said I think I can get the votes for something like that. They heard 1.8 in total cuts and ran with it. I know in my heart what I meant when I said it, as do others who were present during the meeting.

If you do simple math and add 10 percent to the total amount expended in fiscal year 23-24, you get somewhere around $33,770,000. Now add the insurance cost, which is around 1.5 million, and you get $35,270,000. Round that up for unseen inflation and extra positions, and let’s call it $36 million total. I think that ask would have been a well-received by the county commission, but they are still asking for 3 million more than this.

I say this to every Board of Education Employee and taxpayer reading this: I am not against raises and insurance, but I am against unnecessary fluff and pad. I have tried to operate off real numbers since I got here 6 years ago. As I stated in a previous post this week, I take spending taxpayer dollars seriously. I have had these same conversations with department heads and elected officials in the past. Does that make me the most liked guy in Smith County government? No, but that’s part of the job! That’s all I would ask the BOE to do: operate on real numbers. Budgets are estimated guesses; I understand that, but what I don’t want to see is a tax increase in a few years.

The Commission can not line item their budget. They can only vote the BOE’s budget up or down. If the elevated amount is approved they can legally spend that amount. Which would be more than current revenues and cause their reserves to be depleted. If this budget is voted down, the BOE can STILL give raises and insurance through the amendment process.

Like the rest of the county government, the BOE is running on a continuing budget until the 24-25 budget is passed.

Thank you for allowing me to be your mayor! I love you all and I love this place! May God Bless You and May God Bless Smith County!

Below is a statement from the Smith County Board of Education:

While it has been the policy of the Board of Education not to engage in online discussions concerning the business of the Smith County School Systems, the time has come to address misinformation and set the record straight regarding the FY25 budget and the future of Smith County Schools.

The Board of Education acknowledges the struggles of many of the county’s departments. We understand and recognize the financial need of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Smith County Road Commission, and the Smith County Solid Waste. We support every effort by those and other county departments to obtain their much-needed funds and feel they are long overdue. Fortunately, the Board of Education is not requesting any funding that would divert funds away from those departments.

The Smith County Board of Education has a long-standing record of financial responsibility and excellence. In recent years, the Board of Education has been asked to lend money to Smith County Government due to the poor financial condition of the county. Taxpayers in this county saw an unprecedented property tax increase that we are all still feeling the impact of. Instead of finding other ways to increase revenue for the county, the Mayor and County Commission came directly to the taxpayer. Now, Mayor Jeff Mason wants you to believe that the county is doing well and the fund balance has increased, but in truth, the funds he is touting came right out of local tax payer pockets. And, they will soon be coming back for more. Without increased property taxes, the county would remain in the same poor financial condition it has been in for years.

In stark contrast to the financial condition of the county, the Board of Education has continued to grow their fund balance, secure additional revenue streams through grants and maximization of reimbursement from the State of Tennessee by utilizing credits for Career and Technical Education (CTE) students, and solid budgeting practices. The Board of Education follows a 5-year plan and knows the projected revenues for the Board of Education are going to continue to be a sustainable source of funding for the raises and benefits we have included in the FY25 budget.

We have not asked the county for any additional funds in at least 15 years and despite that, today the Board of Education has a historic fund balance. We have secured an estimated $20M in grant funds which has allowed our system to focus on updating technology, building maintenance, new and upgraded facilities, and better safety and security for our students. Director Smith and the Board of Education is very proud of that. Can you imagine trying to run your household off the same money you earned 15 years ago at today’s prices? The Board of Education is doing just that and will continue to maintain every resource available to us and continue to gather revenue streams to decrease reliance on local funding. In fact, the Board of Education has offered to the assist the county in writing grants and offered other resources, but those offers have gone without response from the county.

In his recent Facebook post, Mayor Jeff Mason attacked the Board of Education stating we should operate on “real numbers” and openly criticized the Board of Education for coming in $2 Million UNDER budget last year. He should be applauding that level of financial responsibility instead of complaining that all the money wasn’t spent. Any money the Board of Education doesn’t spend goes back into the Board of Education’s fund balance; it doesn’t go to the county, which is an often-misunderstood fact by commissioners and tax payers alike. By statue, the county cannot spend or encumber the Board of Education’s money. They simply have the administrative duty of approving the budget. Whether the Board of Education has $2 million, $4 million, or $100 left at the end of the fiscal year, it has no impact on what can be spent by the county.

On May 18, 2023, Gov. Bill Lee signed HB-0329 into law mandating starting teacher pay be no less than $50,000 per year by the 2026-2027 school year. This law was effective July 1, 2023. Additionally, the new law mandated immediate changes to the state salary schedule for teachers and established a base salary that is no less than (1) $42,000 for the 2023-2024 school year; (2) $44,500 for the 2024-2025 school year, (3) $47,000 for the 2025-2026 school year, (4) $50,000 for the 2026-2027 school year.

The salary increases that have been approved by the Board of Education and included in our FY25 budget are a result of this legislation and trying to be ensure that Smith County teachers are not only earning more than the state minimum, but that we remain competitive with the counties around us so that we are not only recruiting new talent, but also retaining our most seasoned educators. The ongoing budget frustrations have caused the school system to lose teachers and non-certified positions, including those much-needed personnel in our Special Education Department and those who care for our special education students.

Mayor Mason and various County Commissioners have repeatedly referred to “fluff” or “padding” in the Board of Education’s budget. This is a patently false statement and demonstrates their general lack of understanding of the Board of Education budget. As a result of the state legislation mentioned above, the Board of Education gave a 12% raise to all employees in August 2023. Those raises were not included in the FY24 Budget salary line item because the legislation that precipitated those raises was not effective at the time the budget was approved by the County Commission. In the FY25 budget, those 12% raises are included, plus an additional raise of 10% for an effective increase of 22%. The “simple math” Mayor Mason references does not work when it he is calculating numbers he doesn’t understand. The “fluff” that has been repeatedly referred to is an estimated $1.298M in the FY24 budget, which means that the Board of Education was 96.1% accurate with their budget projections. The “fluff” is less than 4% of the Board of Education’s total budget.

It has also been suggested if this budget fails, that the Board of Education should come back next month and ask for the raises and the benefits as a budget amendment. Whether we ask now or a month from now, the money the Board of Education would be spending is the same money requested in the FY25 budget. To pretend otherwise is very deceptive to our community.

The Mayor also told taxpayers the County Commission cannot “line item” the Board of Education’s budget, but then gives a protracted explanation that does just that. He has made similar line itemizations statements in budget meetings. In an email to Smith County Schools Chief Financial Officer, Norma Mitchell, on July 10, 2024, Mayor Mason stated, “Now during the budget meeting on June 17th it was discussed cutting 1.8 million dollars out of the salary line 71100.” In that same email to Ms. Mitchell, stated he was not motivated by what Director Smith thinks and shamefully referred to budget discussions as a “pissing contest.”

The Board of Education has made every effort to include the County Commissioners and Mayor Mason in every budget meeting and work session the Board of Education has had on our budget. Mayor Mason hasn’t attended any of those meetings and less than five (5) of the twenty-four (24) County Commissioners have attended. We applaud those Commissioners who have come to the meetings, asked questions, and made phone calls. We sincerely appreciate their interest and efforts to understand the Board’s position and they should be commended for the time they have spent with the Board of Education.

Another important part of the FY25 Budget is health insurance benefits for full-time, non-certified employees. Those employees are currently eligible for coverage, but for most employees it is cost prohibitive. Often their salaries fall short of the cost of the coverage each month. In some cases, it has taken an employee’s entire earnings to pay for those benefits. In 2014, due the unaffordability of the benefits, the Board made the difficult decision to pay the penalty assessed as a part of the Affordable Care Act rather than absorbing the cost of the benefits. This has resulted in a finding each year against the Board of Education by the comptroller’s office. In a special committee meeting with Mayor Mason and other commissioners, Director Smith was asked to eliminate all comptroller findings. At an estimated annual cost of $1.6M, those benefits were added to the FY25 budget.

Our track record of financial responsibility is without reproach. We have been excellent stewards of federal, state, and local dollars. This is a similar budget to those presented to the County Commission for the last ten (10) years or more, aside from adjustments for capital outlay, cost of living increases, and inflation. The only notable difference in this year’s budget is the salary increases and benefits for full-time, non-certified employees. It is disappointing we have had to reach this level of advocacy to get a budget approved that doesn’t ask the county for anything but a basic understanding of our budget.