Lookout Mountain, Tn., facing the loss of revenue from the Hall Income Tax, will have a nine-cent property tax increase.
The budget that was accepted on first reading on Tuesday night includes a property tax increase of five percent. The new property tax rate is $1.83 per $1,000 of assessed value, which is up from $1.74. That will increase revenues for the town by $92,500.
Town Consultant Dwight Montague told the commission that the biggest issue that the town has to deal with is the state of Tennessee’s decision to eliminate the Hall tax over the next five years.
Mayor Carol Mutter said, "We regret proposing a property tax increase, but we have no choice since the Hall tax makes up a substantial part of the budget each year."
The money received by the town will be reduced from six percent of the state income tax allotment to five percent this year. An additional reduction of one percent each year will follow until the tax is gone. This budget assumes that $500,000 will be received in 2017, down from $573,938 in 2016. The exact amount that will be received will be known by mid July and adjustments can be made at that time if necessary, said Mr. Montague.
Capital projects that are planned for the coming year are $5,000 of safety equipment for the fire and police, $15,000 for repairs to the gate and a garage door at the public works facility, $50,000 for paving and roadway repair, $45,000 for a tractor for the public works department and $26,000 for a mower and tractor to be used for the parks and playgrounds department.
Highlights of other planned expenses includes an increase of two percent for employee raises, and a 15 percent increase for employee health insurance. An increase of around $5,000 above last year to $480,065 is budgeted for the school. The PTA contribution has also been increased $5,000. The money designated for the school funds nine additional positions: two classroom teachers, a science teacher, an art teacher, one full-time and one part-time physical education teacher, and three classroom assistants. Each year the town pays around 60 percent of the supplementary educational expenses and the PTA pays around 40 percent. The excellent school is considered to be a major attraction for young families.
Expected revenue includes $50,000 from building permits, which anticipates continuation of the current trend of increases in building and remodeling. State sales taxes are projected to be $145,000, up $10,000 from 2016, and local taxes are expected to rise $5,000 to $59,000. Income from the parking meters around Point Park has exceeded expectations this year and are slated to bring in $68,000 in 2017. Revenue from cell tower antennae fees is down to $22,000 this year because the new tower that was planned has not been built and because the antenna from Sprint was removed.
Commons Camp started June 6 and there was a good turnout the first week, said Brooke Pippenger, commissioner of parks and playgrounds. Scott Shell is in charge of the program for children six and older and Gwin Tugman directs Kiddie Days for four and five year olds on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Other counselors are Macy Chandler, Bailey Diamondidis, Elliott Dockery and Paul Stern. Lookout Mountain, Tn. will host the all-star baseball games for seven- and eight-year-olds on June 24-29 at Senter Field. Two new proposals have been made to accommodate dogs on the mountain. Jimmy Stewart is helping to have a water fountain, just for dogs, installed at Jane Davenport’s Park on West Brow Road. And Commissioner Pippenger is getting together a committee to explore and raise money for fencing an area at Verlenden Park for a place where dogs will be allowed to run free. Water, parking and benches would be needed in addition to the fence. This should be a fun addition to the community, she said.
Chief Randy Bowden put together statistics for the fire and police department during the month of May, which shows 104 calls to the police, 13 calls to assist citizens and 14 calls to 911. Police patrolled 2,814 miles, made 11 traffic stops, and answered 15 burglar alarms that were all false. There were three auto accidents during the month, one disorder, and two thefts, one at the Commons, from a vehicle where a purse had been left on the front seat with the windows down. The suspect is not from the community, said Mayor Mutter, but she cautioned residents to lock car doors. Police responded to 10 medical calls and five lift-assist calls. There were no calls to the fire department during the month.
The commissioners voted to increase parking citation fines of $5-$10 that were established by ordinance in 1954. The fines will be raised to $36 if paid within 10 days and $66 if paid after 10 days. New handguns were bought to replace aging ones for the police department in May. A two-week extension of sick pay was approved for Assistant Chief David McGuffey until he receives his final prognosis from a recent illness. Mayor Mutter would like to remind residents to be careful on the roads this summer with an increase of people out walking and children playing.
Commissioner of Schools Don Stinnett said that 28 children graduated from fifth grade this year. He also announced that the library at Lookout Mountain Elementary will be open during the summer for 100 hours, supervised by Lee Cook. The dates and times are posted on the door. Camp Invention will be held at the school from July18-22 run by Bryan Mann. The greenhouse behind the school is now complete.
It is “business as usual” in the public works department, said Commissioner Walker Jones, with repairs being made to pot holes, pick-up of brush and basic maintenance. New street signs have been received and will be put up to replace the ones that are missing. The area around the recycling bin is usually very busy, and Commissioner Jones cautioned residents to drive slowly and carefully going in and out.
Two residents that live on Fairy Trail came to ask for help to control the odor that rises from Ochs Highway around the large waterfall. The problem started when Lookout Mountain, Ga. tied into the Tennessee sewer system that goes down the mountain. Commissioner Jones said he will contact the Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority (WWTA) and Brad Haven, city manager for the Georgia town, and ask for help to solve the problem.
Carrington Montague requested assistance from the town to stop solicitations. He suggested for the town to put up signs notifying that no solicitations are allowed and for stricter enforcement of the ordinance to prevent it. Despite having blue stickers on his mailbox, he said the problem persists. The mayor would like residents to know that blue stickers are available at town hall. If these are put on a mailbox, they indicate that anyone asking for money is prohibited from coming to your door. Police have to know they are on the mountain before anything can be done. If anyone is seen going door to door, residents are urged to call the police.
Mayor Mutter thanked Candice Chazen, president of the Lookout Mountain Beautiful Garden Club, for putting flowers in the planters at the Point Park office which the National Park Service had left empty this spring. She also said that Clumpies is now open every day from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. at the Point.
The next meeting of the Lookout Mountain, Tn. Commission will be later than usual in July because the amount of Hall tax the town will receive will not be known until mid-month. The meeting is scheduled for July 26 at 5 p.m.