CLINTON—The Anderson County Commission could officially approve a budget tonight that lowers the property tax rate by one-third of a penny, and commissioners will consider re-establishing the Alternatives to Incarceration program under the direction and control of the Sheriff’s Department.
Commission will also consider selling 22.4 acres in the David Jones Industrial Park, with a 4.27-acre swap. The land would be sold for $13,500 per acre, with 2.9 acres removed from the original parcel to be retained by Anderson County.
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Room 312 at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.
As previously reported on Oak Ridge Today, the proposed budget, which was endorsed during a special County Commission meeting on Thursday, also gives employees a day off, and it is supposed to provide enough money to pay for jailers hired in the past year while allowing the sheriff to hire new ones for a jail addition that could open later this year.
It would also restore some funding for the relatively new Alternatives to Incarceration program, which Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank had proposed cutting by 80 percent, and add money to cover the cost of increased health insurance premiums for county employees.
Anderson County Commissioner Steve Mead said the property tax rate reduction would save the average homeowner between $1 and $1.25.
The budget was endorsed in a 12-1-1 vote Thursday. Voting for it were Anderson County Commission Chair Chuck Fritts, Vice Chair Robin Biloski, Parliamentarian Dusty Irwin, and commissioners Zach Bates, Jerry Creasey, Steve Emert, Tim Isbel, Myron Iwanski, Robert McKamey, Steve Mead, Rick Meredith, and Jerry White.
Voting against it was Anderson County Commissioner Whitey Hitchcock. Commissioner John Shuey abstained.
Commissioners Tracy Wandell and Mark Alderson were absent.
The land sale was approved by the Anderson County Operations Committee last week.
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