News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Warren County is considering other options after tabling a wheel tax increase Monday.
County Executive Jimmy Haley said the county may propose a property tax increase.
“There has been a discussion by our finance director and our financial advisor through Cumberland Securities to propose somewhere around 28 cents,” Haley said. “It could be higher or lower, or if the commission votes no tax rate at all, then we will have to start looking at some cuts.”
Haley said the original $30-wheel tax increase would have funded projects in the school system.
“We have been looking at some shortfalls and so teachers are needing some additional raises in order to keep our BEP formula stable. And there are some laptops and Chromebooks that are needed for the school system,” Haley said. “And we are desperately in need of some new deputies at the Sheriff’s Department and the jail because we are understaffed.”
Haley said the commission may re-address the wheel tax during the July meeting.
“In the meantime, budget and financial management will be putting together a consolidating budget and be looking at a tax rate next week,” Haley said.
The County Commission could choose to raise the wheel tax with a two-thirds vote or by putting it to a public referendum. State law requires counties to submit their budgets by Aug. 31.
