News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Overton County’s upcoming fiscal year tax rate will stay at $2.25.
County Executive Ben Danner said unprecedented sales tax revenue kept the county from having to raise property taxes this year.
“We had extra revenue from that, but then we’ve had some shortfalls on some revenue coming in from the state, so that’s kind of helped offset that,” Danner said. “In the past, when we didn’t have the sales tax increase, we had to raise property tax to offset the lower monies coming in from the state.”
Danner said the new budget includes pay increases and works to improve employee benefits.
“We’ve got an increase in the pay scale and we also are paying more on employees insurance,” Danner said. “We are going to be paying all of the single employee insurance, and the ambulance service and sheriff’s department have more people on that insurance plan than any other department.”
All county employees will be making at least $11 an hour in 2019-2010, Danner said. The budget also sets aside money for new ambulances and patrol cars.
Danner said continuing to improve salaries and wages will be a top priority while he’s serving as county executive.
“To be honest, we’re still way behind other counties around us on pay,” Danner said. “It’s hard to keep good employees here because we’re losing them to other counties.”
The Overton County Commission unanimously approved the tax rate and new spending plan this week.
