It took county commissioners only 11 minutes Monday night to approve the 2025-26 budget without property tax increase. This marks the third time the full body has voted on proposed budgets. The first vote, that included an $.08 tax increase was rejected 9-6; the second version that reduced the increase to $.04 also failed, 10-8.
Monday’s vote was approved 17-0. Commissioner Ricky Hardy was not in attendance.
The tax levy for the new fiscal year was set at $1.5853 which is the state’s certified tax rate.
A resolution to approve appropriations to non-profit charitable organizations was approved 16-1. Commissioner Jerry Lowe voted against.
Those contributions include:
• Chester County Senior Citizens Center, $20,000
• Southwest Human Resource Agency, $2,550
• Southwest TN. Development District, $5,000
• American Red Cross, $2,500
• Aspell Recovery, $1,000
• CCHS Project Graduation, $500
• WRAP, $2,500
• West TN Hearing and Speech, $2,000
• Veteran’s Cemetery Services, $500
• Chester County Chamber of Commerce, $15,000
• Carl Perkins Center, $2,000
• Chester County Rescue Squad, $10,400
Commissioners also approved a resolution that reduces the compensation they receive for their services from the current amount of $135 per commission meeting and $67.50 per budget meeting to the state minimum of $25 per commission meeting and $12.50 per budget meeting. Commissioners Lowe, Kevin Faulkner and Al McKinnon voted against the resolution.
CUTLINE
Chester County Commissioners voted 17-0 to approve the 2025-26 budget for the upcoming fiscal year. County Mayor Barry Hutcherson expressed his appreciation to the budget committee for their meticulousness efforts to prepare a budget without a property tax increase. He also thanked commissioners and those in the audience who had followed the budgeting process and voiced their opinions.
