July 9, 2010 Morristown Mayor and City Council Pass Amendment Increasing Tax Rate from $0.98 to $1.05

Councilmembers Gene Brooks and Frank McGuffin weren't present yesterday, but Mayor Barile and Councilmembers Bob Garrett, Claude Jinks, Doc Rooney, and Kay Senter passed the amendment increasing the property tax levy of $0.98 that was passed in June to a figure of $1.05.

2010 is a reappraisal year. The whole budget/city tax rate fiasco occurred because City Administrator Tony Cox and Budget Director Brian Janish--and the Mayor and Council--refused to wait for the reappraisal and appeal process to run its course with receipt of the certified tax rate from the state.

Cox and Janish set budget, new garbage fee, and tax rate votes for June 15 and June 17 at which time a property tax rate of $0.98 was approved. 

Just 11 days later, the reappraisal numbers were finalized and a certified tax rate of $1.05 was received from the state for the City of Morristown.

The City, which had "jumped the gun" by approving a tax rate before receipt of the certified tax rate, then  decided to re-do or amend its previous tax vote and adopt the higher $1.05 tax rate.

[Unlike the City, Hamblen County recognized the requirement to wait for the final reappraisal process and receipt of the certified tax rate before voting on a new tax rate and budget. Click here for when the county delayed its scheduled vote on a tax rate because the certified rate had not been received. Click here for info on the certified Hamblen rate that was received June 28.  And click here for when a vote on the Hamblen County tax rate and budget took place on June 30 after receipt of the certified rate.]