Hawkins County Commission approves budget with property tax increase

The Hawkins County Commission finalized and passed the 2024-25 budget Monday night after some delay brought on by property tax concerns. County officials say the finalized budget does include a property tax increase of just under 23 cents. Previously, the proposed tax increase had been 34 cents. Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson had also asked the commission earlier in July for assistance raising pay for his department. Lawson told commissioners on July 1 that he was down 11 positions and was having trouble keeping employees with other agencies offering more pay in the surrounding jurisdictions. The commission allocated $1.5 million for the sheriff’s office to improve pay, slightly less than Lawson had asked for.