There are ongoing discussions within the Roane County Budget Committee about a property-tax rate increase this year. During the May County Commission meeting, Commissioner David Bell asked County Executive Ron Woody how much of an increase is planned for this year due to road repairs and school improvements. Woody said the budget committee is looking at $0.11, but he expects those numbers to be tweaked before the full commission gets the budget in a couple of months.

County roads suffered a tremendous hit during the February flooding. Road Department officials estimate repairs will cost around $10 million. Federal and Tennessee Emergency Management funds would cover about 85% of that amount, but the county had to borrow the money to get the repairs started.

Woody told commissioners a proposed bridge at the old Caney Creek campground entrance needed to access approximately 60 acres of county property, but the county would have to pony up roughly a $25,000 match for $75,000 in state funds to help fund that project. The county currently has $300,000 in reserves for the building of that bridge.