May 19, 2013
NEWPORT, Tenn. (AP) -- Property taxes are going up after votes in one East Tennessee county and one Middle Tennessee County.
According to the Citizen Tribune, it took eight votes for the Cocke County Legislative Body to settle on a budget with a 35-cent property tax increase that will bring in $2 million. Officials trimmed a proposed 45-cent increase but faced pressure to act because the landfill fund was nearly depleted.
It took two votes for commissioners in Wilson County to agree this week to raise the tax rate by 7 cents, whittled down from a proposed 22-cent increase. The Lebanon Democrat reports (http://bit.ly/PoQdem ) the new revenue will go toward building a high school in Watertown and into the general fund. Spending cuts will be needed to balance the budget.
