LEBANON, TN (WSMV) -
Wilson County commissioners voted Monday to increase property taxes, but it's a much smaller increase than what was initially proposed.
At first, the budget committee proposed a 22-cent increase, but during a three-hour meeting they whittled that down by more than two-thirds.
Commissioners settled on a 7-cent tax increase. That means for someone who owns a $200,000 home, they will pay about $40 a year more.
The increase is earmarked for just two things. Just over half of the money will go toward increasing the fund balance, which is dangerously low, and the rest will go to a school debt fund.
The education dollars will be used to build a new high school in Watertown.
Most folks who spoke Monday were passionate against the tax increase, but the county finance director said cuts will have to be made elsewhere in the budget because they had expected a 22-cent increase.
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