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Weakley County Commission Approves Budget, Concerns Raised Over Likelihood of Raising Taxes Nex Year

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The Weakley County Commission passed their budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year at the Thursday, June 27 meeting, however, before passing the budget multiple concerns were raised regarding taxes not being raised in the budget and the likelihood of a tax spike in next year’s budget.

The county tax rate will stay at $1.3702, however, commissioners once again raised numerous concerns regarding that which stemmed off of the May 30 Finance, Ways, and Means Committee where commissioners initially started raising concerns over taxes.

It should be noted that the commission has not raised taxes since 2012.

The reasoning for an increase the next fiscal year has a lot to do with teacher raises, according to Director of Schools Jeff Cupples who spoke up at the Finance, Ways, and Means meeting.

NOTES ON DISCUSSION FROM THE MAY 30 FWM:

“The fact is that we've got all these mandates as far as teacher pay and it's going to be hitting us hard,” Cupples stated.

Commissioner David Hawks raised numerous possibilities for a possible increase, citing the possibility of Governor Lee’s voucher program being implemented in the future which would affect the county’s general fund, the stock market drop, the economy and the possibility of another COVID outbreak, thus increasing the county’s tax rate the next fiscal year.

“I don’t think anyone in this room wants to talk about raising taxes and I’m against raising taxes, but I think we’re trying to put a Band-Aid on something,” stated Hawks.

“We’re fixing to have to make a lot tougher decision and they probably need to be made today. The budget is tight right now,” Hawks emphasized.

Commissioner Greg Usery, while not disagreeing, wanted to wait until the next fiscal year to look at raising taxes.

“In another year, we're going to know a whole lot more about where we are. We're going to know more about the economy. We're going to know more about what these mandatory increases are,” Usery stated.

“I’d rather just look at it one time and have it done,” pro tem Mayor Dennis Doster stated.

Cupples informed the board that in the last fiscal year, the school system lost three pennies from the commission and if they had that money now, they’d be in the black.

The last fiscal year, the school system received a lot of grant money, so they did not ask the commission for any money.

“We pushed everything we had into raises to try to soften this blow. Now it's here.” Cupples stated. The school system would be taking non-recurring revenue to pay for recurring expenses, according to Cupples.

By this time next year the expenses the school is looking at is $500,000 on laptops and buses plus staying competitive in pay which would require a million dollars in raises, according to Cupples.

“So you're looking at nine plus pennies. Now you talk about sticker shock, that's like trying to go buy a Suburban. So I mean, for a taxpayer, that's a kick in the pants,” Cupples explained.

Doster emphasized that no matter what the increase in taxes was, the community would be upset about it and the county would likely be looking at those increases come the next fiscal calendar year.

Now fast forward to the County Commission meeting, some of those same concerns were raised.

“I know last year that we put – let's take the schools, for instance. They need a lot of extra money to pay teachers. I'm a firm believer that these people are the best asset, and I'm not against that, but we've got the same tax rate. We’re fixing a problem with the same tax rate but are we kicking the can down the road? I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do,” Commissioner Jack Vincent stated.

“We have more teacher salary increases that's coming down the line. We're gonna be winding up having to come up with about another $1.8 billion. We can go through this year like we are, we're in good shape, but, next year we're going to have to start facing it and making preparations,” Pro Tem Mayor Dennis Doster stated.

Doster said that he felt that it would better to wait until the next year because by that time the County would know more regarding how things would work, teacher pay and what could be done. Doster was against raising the taxes a little one time and then having to raise them again stating that he’d rather just do it one time and be done with it.

“I would rather do it one time and bite the bullet,” Doster said.

Vincent said that there were a lot of things the County has got coming including $400,000 for ambulances, raises across the board and numerous other things.

“We’re sitting here kicking a can down the road, knowing it’s coming. It’s something we’re going to have to face the facts on. I don’t think we can keep putting it off. What if next year’s revenues go up a little bit and we’re where we are again? Sooner or later its going to hit the fan. I just think some hard decisions need to be made,” Commissioner David Hawks stated.

Commissioner David Bell stated that he did not want to see that next year the County would have to go up 30 cents on taxes.

“I want to go on record and say that all of the concerns I had in HEED last month concerning the budget, I still have. I don’t think it’s a question of being effective, I think it’s a question of being efficient. I think we have some hard decisions to make and that’s going to be steering my vote here in a few minutes,” Commissioner Brian Donanvant stated.

The Commission passed the budget with the same tax rate with Donavant the only commissioner voting against.

While the Weakley County tax rate remains the same for this fiscal year, the likelihood that it will see a spike is extremely high and Weakley Countians should be prepared for that in June 2025.

The next County Commission meeting will be held July 22 at 5 p.m. at the Weakley County Courthouse.