Polk will appeal raft ruling

By Ron Clayton

Correspondent

BENTON, Tenn. — Polk County will ask the Tennessee Supreme Court to hear their appeal of a ruling overturning a tax on commercial rafting.

Commissioners voted unanimously last night to appeal last week’s ruling from the Tennessee Court of Appeals. The ruling held that Polk County could not tax commercial rafting tickets on the Ocoee River. The court disallowed the tax because the river, in the Cherokee National Forest, comes under a federal law regulating navigable rivers in U.S. control.

The appeals court ordered the county to set aside any money collected from the $2.50-per-ticket tax for one year to allow rafting customers to apply for refunds. After one year, any unclaimed money would go to the state.

County Attorney Jim Logan told commissioners last night that the county could be liable for more than $1 million.

See Saturday’s Times Free Press for complete coverage.