Sullivan Co. Commission approves property tax increase to fund construction of new jail

Commissioners in Sullivan County have approved a property tax increase set to start next fiscal year to fund construction for a new jail.

During a meeting Thursday night, leaders voted 16-8 in favor of increasing the property tax rate by 12 cents per $100 of taxable property in the county. The rate increase may end up not exactly being 12 cents though as next year will be an appraisal year. The revenue from the tax increase will go towards debt service to the approximately $80 million dollar bond, which will act as a funding mechanism for the new facility.

The issue was hotly debated by commissioners, mostly on whether it was a good time to issue the bonds with interest rates at historically low levels in addition to how the burden could be greater for taxpayers with the county already feeling economic effects brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The matter will not need a second reading as a motion to suspend the traditional two reading policy was approved before the vote.