Murphy – Cherokee County officials were told to expect a loss of sales tax revenue in fiscal year 2020-21 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, that prediction did not hold true.
In fact, Cherokee County’s sales tax revenue from July 2020 through February increased 18 percent, compared to that same time period the previous fiscal year.
As a result, the county manager’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year does not include an increase in the property tax millage rate. If commissioners approve the proposal as is, the property tax rate would remain at the current rate of 46 cents.
The budget proposal does not include a tax millage rate increase to support high school consolidation in the upcoming fiscal year. Commissioners previously voted to fund the project through a dedicated millage rate increase of no more than 4 cents; however, they have not formally set a rate because officials are still working to determine the project’s costs.
“The board can always choose to add it [before July], considering that if they don’t, it would be a year before they could make this decision again.” County Manager Randy Wiggins told the Cherokee Scout.
The budgeted sales tax proceeds for fiscal year 2021-22 is $3.8 million more than the amount budgeted for the current fiscal year, which will help the county replace vehicles and equipment across various departments. County officials also want to hire personnel to fill at least six full-time and two part-time positions in various departments:
• Four full-time positions in Department of Social Services.
• One full-time position in Emergency Communications.
• One full-time position in Human Resources.
• One part-time position in 911 Addressing.
• One part-time position in the Tax Assessor’s Office.
County officials may also implement an updated pay plan in the upcoming fiscal year, which is expected to be discussed in tonight’s budget work session.
No new school tax in county’s budget proposal
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