News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A property tax increase is on the table for the DeKalb County Commission’s new fiscal year budget.
Mayor Matt Adcock said as currently proposed, the increase sits at around 27 cents. He said that an increase is necessary to help cover the county’s increased expenses.
“It’s good because our employees are getting their yearly raises just like any other department or county but it’s also bad that it is time that we have to increase those salary line items to make up for that cost,” Adcock said. “We also have to face some inflation of course, I think all counties have that reflected in their budget.”
Adcock said the property tax rate will go from $1.73 and increase to $2.00. He said the county’s total expenditures add up to more than $63 million funded by local, state, and federal sources.
Adcock said capital expenditures include a new ambulance for the EMS Department and new patrol cars for the Sheriff’s Department. He said the budget committee has also put funds toward building a fire hall in the Wolf Creek area.
“It’s the one area in DeKalb County that is outside the ISO rating five-mile board,” Adcock said. “So their insurance premiums for their home insurance is a lot higher because they don’t have a fire station within five miles. That’s been in capital projects for years and it’s just been rolling over and accumulating more money. Last year we in (FY) 2023 had $100,00 budget just for that project and added another $100,000 to it this year in (FY) 2024.”
Adcock said they also budgeted for improvements at their other fire halls, such as getting insulation for the one in Belk.
The County Commission will consider the budget at its Monday meeting at 6 p.m.
