CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The Bradley County Commission has approved a plan for a fire tax increase that is projected to provide about $630,000 for boosting firefighter salaries.
County residents with a $100,000 home would see either a $5 or $12.72 increase on their annual property tax bill, depending on where they live.
The measure passed on Monday by a 13-1 vote, but a number of commissioners originally wanted to postpone the vote for another two weeks to better crunch the numbers.
Bradley County Commissioner Milan Blake
Dan Rawls“This county commission has a bad habit of making hasty decisions and then having to come back and clean up the mess they’ve made,” Commissioner Milan Blake said.
Blake told an audience of more than 30 firefighters that he wanted to take the time to “do it right,” since the measure did not actually set the new tax rate.
The increase plan, if implemented when the tax rates are established in July, would reset the fire tax levy to .4712 cents per $100 of taxable property in the county’s two fire districts.
Properties located within Fire District 1, the fringe area next to the Cleveland city limits, now are assessed a fire tax of .4212 cents per $100 of taxable property. The predominantly rural properties of Fire District 2 now are assessed a fire tax of .3440 cents per $100 of taxable property.
Blake was supported by four other commissioners in an attempt to postpone the matter until the county commission’s next voting session, but their efforts failed in a 9-5 vote.
“This is unclear to me and a little bit too ambiguous,” said Commissioner Dan Rawls in support of Blake’s concerns. Rawls cast the only opposing vote when the measure was passed later.
Commission Vice Chairman Jeff Yarber disagreed with the idea the matter was being handled in a “hasty” manner, stating that increasing firefighter pay has been a recurring issue since he took office in 2002.
“I respectfully disagree with Mr. Blake,” Commissioner Mark Hall said. “I understand his motives are pure, but these men and women are professionals and I think we should pay them as such.”
Blake stated he was not in favor of raising taxes, but “the market is telling us we need to make adjustments on our compensation package.”
Chief Troy Maney of Bradley County Fire & Rescue told the commissioners that timing did matter, citing a recent conversation with a firefighter who was preparing to leave the department.
That firefighter may stay now that he “sees light at the end of the tunnel,” Maney said.
The Bradley County Fire Board, which meets March 24, is expected to make a recommendation to the Bradley County Commission on an actual salary increase plan for firefighters.
A number of options are on the table, including an $8,000 across-the-board bump to firefighter salaries, fire officials said. Starting salary for county firefighters is $24,000.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.