LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Before a large crowd (TOP PHOTO) late Saturday afternoon at LaFollette City Hall, council members voted in a 16-cent property tax increase.    Mayor Mike Stanfield was absent from the meeting, due to a prior obligation. Councilman Lonnie “Hotrod” Wilson who is vice mayor presided over the meeting.

Citizens were given an opportunity to ask questions prior to the meeting in a public hearing. Wilson explained before starting that each person would be given three minutes to address the council. Before opening the floor to citizens, City Administrator Jimmy Jeffries discussed how the county’s recent reappraisal affected the certified tax rate. Leaving an option for the city to increase its taxes. Jeffries said that an increase in city taxes would cost approximately $20 per year for a $50,000 house. He continued that the increase would bring in about $225,000 for the city. The last time we had a property tax increase was in 2005 and it was 56-cents.

The first of several citizens to speak was Ralph Sharp who told council that he was still waiting on the public works department to come clean out his ditch.  He then moved into discussing the old post office and the money that was spent on it. Sharp’s time ran out before he could address any property tax concerns. Katie Goins asked council members what the property tax increase will cover; raises for police, fire and street department employees?  Council member Ann Thompson said that increase would cover a three-percent increase for all employees.  Michael Hammons voiced concern about the impact of the increase on businesses to which Sharp told him to raise his prices to make up the difference.

After 45-minutes, Wilson closed the public hearing to continue the adjourned in session regular monthly meeting. Council had three items on the agenda. The first item was a resolution to set the tax rate to exceed the certified tax rate, Council members Bill Archer and Mark Hoskins voted yes with Thompson voting no. Resolution 2019-06 to amend the 2018-19 budget, the resolution to close out the budget was passed. The final item was Ordinance 2019-02 approval of the 2019-20 budget (final reading), again Archer and Hoskins voted yes.  Thompson voted no.

CORRECTION:  WLAF initially reported that Lonnnie “Hot Rod” Wilson voted for the property tax increase.  He did not.  Wilson only presided over the meeting and did not vote on any item.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/01/2019-6AM-UPDATED 07/02/2019-6AM)