Greene County property owners could face a nearly 30% increase in their property taxes under the budget that will be proposed to the County Commission at their July meeting. The tax increase will be used for raises for county employees. There is no pay increase for teachers or county school employees in that tax increase.
The Greene County Budget & Finance Committee met this morning to review the final submissions and requests from department heads. After this year’s county-wide reappraisal, the State of Tennessee set Greene County’s tax rate at $1.27 and one quarter cent per $100 of assessed value. The proposed budget sets the new tax rate at $1.65 per $100 of assessed value. County Mayor Kevin Morrison said the raises are necessary to keep the county from losing employees to higher paying jobs, and to remain competitive with neighboring counties. The rate for inside-the-city land will be set at $1.64.
Under the new tax rate, a home appraised at $200,000 would see a $188 increase in annual property taxes from the state certified rate. A $300,000 home would see an increase of around $283 in their property taxes. Each penny in property tax increase yields around $210,000 for Greene County. This rate increase would bring in an additional $7.9 million. (Note: the original version of this story contained incorrect increases for a $200,000 and $300,000 appraisal. The correct amounts are listed above.)
The last increase for the county property tax came in 2018 when commissioners approved a ten cent increase to pay for SRO officers in all county schools. In 2017, the commission approved a ten cent increase to pay for a 5% increase in county employee pay.
A budget workshop has been set for 6PM at the Greene County Courthouse on Thursday at which department heads and elected officials will be on hand to answer any questions from County Commissioners.
The Greene County Commission will meet on July 17 with the budget and proposed tax increase expected to be on the agenda.
The increase was unanimously recommended by the Budget & Finance Committee.
The Town of Greeneville has already passed a $.28 property tax increase.
