Tax hike fears precede Bradley County budget vote

Bradley County Commissioner Thomas Crye
Bradley County Commissioner Thomas Crye

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - The executive committee of the Bradley County Republican Party wants to ensure a property tax hike is not part of the county's 2015-2016 budget vote today.

This spring, Commissioner Thomas Crye has twice tried to pass property tax hikes to pay for a comprehensive overhaul of Lake Forest Middle School.

A proposed tax increase is not on the Bradley County Commission's agenda today, but the body will set the tax rate and appropriations for the new fiscal year.

"We do not have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem," county GOP Chairman Adam Lewis said in a recent statement. "The County Commission has said yes to every project and departmental proposal that has come across their desk, leaving the school system and the kids at Lake Forrest with an empty wallet."

Taxpayers "shouldn't be left holding the check" for the burden, said Lewis, who said is is disappointed in Bradley County commissioners - all Republicans - who support a tax increase.

Although a motion to raise the current rate of $1.8721 per $100 of assessed value failed to get a second in April, a proposed 10-cent increase fell only one vote shy of the eight needed to pass in June.

A 10-cent increase would raise taxes on a $150,000 home by $37.50 a year.

Chairman Louie Alford and Commissioners Terry Caywood, Johnny Mull, Robert Rominger, Howard Thompson and Bill Winters voted with Crye. Vice Chairman Jeff Yarber and Commissioners Bobby Goins, Mark Hall, Mike Hughes, Charlotte Peak and Dan Rawls voted no. Commissioner Milan Blake was absent.

Immediately after the June vote, Crye said, "I, once again, want to give recognition before the public that we need funding for Lake Forest Middle School and other health, education, safety and welfare needs."

Had it passed, the increase would have generated $12 million to replace nearly a dozen Lake Forest classroom pods with a central academic building "as funds become available" in 2016-2017.

County Mayor D. Gary Davis didn't include a property tax increase in the proposed 2015-2016 budget.

He said bond payments for the Lake Forest makeover would not come due until the 2016-2017 fiscal year, even if middle school construction begins next spring.

Rawls, who is the founder of the Tea Party of Southeast Tennessee, has issued a "legislative call to action" by email and social media to fight any tax hike.

Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events