WHITE COUNTY COMMISSION CONSIDERS PROPERTY TAX FREEZE
During Monday night’s committee meetings, White County Commissioners explored the possibility of adopting a property tax freeze to benefit low-income seniors and disabled individuals by locking their property taxes at a specific base amount. County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson, who began researching the freeze after the county passed its fiscal year budget, emphasized the need to take time to ensure the program is implemented correctly, as it would be permanent and not take effect until a year after adoption.
He noted that seniors must be at least 65 and own no more than five acres to qualify, but a CTAS consultant indicated that the freeze would only provide benefits if the county raises its property tax rate, which Robinson deemed unlikely in the near future. He also highlighted potential challenges, such as the freeze’s impact on the property tax relief program, which is tied to the county’s sales ratio, and the administrative burden of managing applications and property assessments.
The comptroller’s office would handle applications, but the trustee’s office might need an additional employee to manage the program. With 27 counties and 35 cities in Tennessee, including nearby DeKalb and Putnam counties, already having a property tax freeze, Robinson proposed forming a sub-committee to further study the implementation process, with discussions to continue next month.
In other business, TK Austin, Roger Mason, and Kris Brewington were appointed Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary of Committee A, respectively, while Robert McCormick, Cain Rogers, and Derrick Hutchings were appointed to the same roles for Committee B.
