Influx Of Sales Tax Makes Atwood Cautious Of Budgeting Season

Chairman of the Putnam County Commission Mike Atwood said the county will have to be careful during this budget season.

Atwood said the increase in sales tax during the pandemic could be seen as a false hope while planning the next fiscal year.

“You can’t count on that,” Atwood said. “So, you got to be smart enough to be able to see out there again the vision that’s involved in recognizing exactly what is a good number,” Atwood said. “The way the sales tax is split the schools get part of it the county gets part of it.”

Many county officials across the Upper Cumberland are concerned that the recent growth in sales tax may be more about COVID relief checks and will go away in the coming months.

Atwood said the commission will need to look at the big picture of the needs of each department. Atwood said it can be hard separating needs from wants during the process.

“That’s the toughest part,” Atwood said. “You’re going to get some right, and you’re going to get some wrong. But, you’ve gotta make a decision. We were elected to make a decision and for these 24 people that’s on this commission, I am so grateful for them, because this group is a group that will do that.”

County Budget Committee meets Monday night as work on the budget for the new fiscal year ramps up.