Overton Nearly Debt Free After Paying Off County Services Building

Overton County Executive Ben Danner expects the county to be debt free by 2024.

Recently, the county paid off a $3.4 million loan for its new service building. Danner said all that remains are refinanced loans from over 40 years ago that were used to renovate the old courthouse and annex.

“I don’t know if we’ve ever really paid off a county building,” Danner said. “We were given the hospital in 1979 and the county redone the courthouse on the square at the same time. So, the county borrowed money to fix the old courthouse and at the same time to fix the annex building to what they’ve made it.”

Danner said when he entered office, he wanted to move away from the long-term notes and focus on paying the debt off. Danner said he believes it is a big accomplishment for the county.

“I don’t know since 1806 if we’ve ever been debt free,” Danner said. “For some that may not be a whole lot, but that’s a really big deal I think, because most of the time when you involve federal government, they owe money and keep borrowing and owe forever. I’ve tried to pay off loans and pay off debt since I’ve been here. Since we’ve freed up so much debt after 2024 year, we put 11 cents of property tax money into the debt service fund.”

Danner said once 2024 comes, he wants to present a paving plan for the county commission to consider. Danner said he would consider using the debt service fund to pave a road each year.

“Maybe borrowing money or using debt service money to do a road every year and try to help the highway department,” Danner said.

Danner said the low debt also means continuing a no tax increase streak.