Chester County Commissioners convened in special session Monday night when the proposed budget was submitted for their approval. Eight of the county commissioners voted against the new budget that would increase the property tax by $.08.
Commissioners Barry Smith, Tim Crowe, Renee Phelps, Dwight Bingham, Luke Weaver, Al McKinnon, Jerry Lowe and Bubba Edgin voted against the increase while Mike Alexander, Todd Lewis, Brenda Matthews, Jerry Emerson, Ann Moore, Jerry King, and Kevin Faulkner voted in favor. Commissioners Andrea Holland, Carolyn Higgins and Ricky Hardy were prohibited from voting because of conflict of interest. All three are county employees.
The certified property tax rate of $1.5853. The budget presented would boost the rate to $1.6653/$100 of assessed value.
The failed budget will now bounce back to the budget committee for revision. Ann Moore, chairman of the committee said they will meet next Monday, July 8 at the Chester County Board of Education building on E. Main Street The meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
Commissioners approved the budgets for the school system, highway department, solid waste and debt service.
Other items on the agenda included:
• approval of a lease to place a Verizon cell tower on county property, located at the Chester County Solid Waste facility. The county will receive an initial payment of $35,000 when the tower is installed and $400 per month in leasing fees. If another carrier is added, the payment would increase by $150 per month. The revenue will go into the county’s general fund;
• approved the budget amendments for each of the departments;
• and, approved a Tennessee Department of Transportation proposal with the turning lane on Highway 100 and State Route 225.
Prior to the commission meeting an hour-long public hearing was held concerning the budget as it was proposed. The courtroom was full of concerned taxpayers who voiced their opinions either in favor of the increase or against it.
Chester County General Sessions Court Judge Angela Scott and Sheriff Mark Griffin both said they were in favor of the increase. They stressed that the county needs this increase for the betterment of the county. Griffin said there are many items that his department needs but have not requested because of budget constraints. “We are out of options.”
Many others spoke concerns over higher property taxes, and higher insurance costs. They also wanted answers on where the county can look to increase revenue.
Pointed questions were raised about where the wheel tax money is allocated and how an approval of a liquor-by-the-drink referendum could add new tax revenue from restaurants that would come it is passed.
Mayor Barry Hutcherson told those in attendance the new budget included a 4% pay increase for all county employees, not including the county officials, who will receive a state mandated 3% increase.
“In addition to the pay increase,” Hutcherson said, “our health and building insurance coverage has also increased substantially. The cost of the ambulance service has risen to over $419,000 yearly and will increase 3% each year.”
