STEVE SMITH
12th District Williamson County Commissioner
Williamson County’s budget for the 2011-2012 tax-year was passed last Monday, by a 17-5 vote. Because of the county wide property reappraisal this year, the new state certified tax rate was set at $2.09 per $100 assessed value. In the last two property reappraisals, we have been fortunate to be able to let the tax rate drop to the new state level. By choosing to keep the county tax rate where it has been for several years, $2.31, the County Commission was able to increase revenue to allow the budget to be balanced. This amounted to a 23 cent increase in the rate and an effective tax increase. Due to the reappraisal, some taxpayers saw their tax burden go down. Regrettably, most will see their tax burden go up. We commissioners are all taxpayers and must live with what we decide, as well. Since 2007, the commission has passed budgets with either zero operating increases or actual cuts to departmental budgets. Some of those years the employees were not provided salary adjustments, as many of us have experienced. The primary budget increase in those years has been for additional educational expense related to new students we are required to provide for. We continue to have the equivalent of a new school’s worth of students entering the system each year. While no one likes having to raise taxes, in this situation I thought it was the right thing to do. Even while keeping the tax rate the same, Williamson County is still one of the lowest taxed counties in Middle Tennessee, we are fiscally strong with a AAA debt rating and our debt level is reasonable given the economic value of the county. The value of the services provided the County such as law enforcement, education, parks and recreation and others contribute tremendously to our overall quality of life, which we all benefit from. We have a great county that we are proud of and I saw this vote as necessary to keep it great for our children and grandchildren.
Our district lies totally within the Franklin city limit boundaries, so many citizens wonder what the County Commission has to do with them.
The Williamson County Commission is responsible for:
Assessing property values
Setting a property tax rate
Collecting property taxes for the county
Funding the Williamson County Schools
Providing for County law enforcement through the Sheriff's department
Williamson County Parks and Recreation facilities
Building and reparing county roads
Operation of the Courthouse and courts
Williamson County Public Libraries
Williamson County Animal Control
These are just some of the things Williamson County provides for all its citizens, whether you live in the city or not.
I look forward to continuing to serve you on the Williamson County Commission.
Please contact me on 615-794-9515 or by email at steve@commissionerstevesmith.com
Paid for by Steve Smith For County Commission Campaign
Our district lies totally within the Franklin city limit boundaries, so many citizens wonder what the County Commission has to do with them.
The Williamson County Commission is responsible for:
Assessing property values
Setting a property tax rate
Collecting property taxes for the county
Funding the Williamson County Schools
Providing for County law enforcement through the Sheriff's department
Williamson County Parks and Recreation facilities
Building and reparing county roads
Operation of the Courthouse and courts
Williamson County Public Libraries
Williamson County Animal Control
These are just some of the things Williamson County provides for all its citizens, whether you live in the city or not.
I look forward to continuing to serve you on the Williamson County Commission.
Please contact me on 615-794-9515 or by email at steve@commissionerstevesmith.com
Paid for by Steve Smith For County Commission Campaign