County tax rate among lowest in the state

Heather Mullinix, Crossville Chronicle, Tenn.
·2 min read

Nov. 6—Cumberland County posted the second lowest property tax in the state this year.

McMinn County, which set its rate at $1.0823 per $100 of assessed value following property reappraisals, took the No. 1 spot, according to data from the Tennessee Comptroller's office.

Cumberland County has a rate of $1.135 per $100 of assessed value — the same rate it set last year. The county anticipates collecting $25.3 million in property taxes this fiscal year.

Gibson County has a property tax rate of $1.1022 per $100; however, the county also has special school district taxes ranging from 41.210 cents to $2.4224 per $100.

Tax notices have already gone out following the finalization of the county's budget and tax rate in August. Deputy Finance Director Jennifer Turner reported the county had collected $1.9 million in property tax revenue — 11.66% of the budgeted amount.

Property taxes are due by Feb. 29, 2024.

Property tax revenue provides funding for county services like law enforcement and fire protection, as well as operating the clerk's, court, election and other county offices.

A portion of the property tax also pays for solid waste and sanitation services to provide convenience centers and recycling programs and to pay for waste transport and disposal as the county no longer operates a landfill. Property taxes also pay the county's loans for large projects like construction of the jail, library, and local schools.

Some of the property tax also goes to the school system, providing local funding to match state education dollars. Cumberland County also pays for school expenses through its share of local option sales tax collections.

Residential property is assessed based on 25% of the property value.

A penny on the county's property tax rate generates $222,957 in revenue.

The county also receives other revenue from fees, excise taxes, grants, service charges, hotel-motel tax and a small share of local option sales tax revenue. This year, they anticipate collecting $37 million in revenue.

The bulk of the county's sales tax collections go toward the school system. The county budgeted $16.6 million in sales tax revenue for the school system in the current fiscal year, with $1.8 million from property taxes.

Kim Bray, chief operations officer for the school system, reported in October that sales tax collections had not met budget projections, with a year-to-date shortfall of $125,066.

"Hopefully, in the next few months, that will catch up," Bray said.

The October sales tax revenues represent sales that took place in August, Bray explained.

The school system received $1.29 million in sales tax for October, $41,905 below the budgeted projection of $1.34 million, with $4 million collected year-to-date.

Heather Mullinix is editor of the Crossville Chronicle. She covers schools and education in Cumberland County. She may be reached at hmullinix@crossville-chronicle.com.