Counties across the state are making a push to create more means of generating additional revenue.
Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster said that was one of the focuses that was discussed at the Association of County Mayors’ conference this week. Foster said the revenue challenges have long been an issue. Foster said counties do not want property tax owners to fund all of the county’s burdens.
“One of the things that we are working with the state on is trying to get a part of the Real Estate Transfer Fee back here into Cumberland County,” Foster said. “We have county employees that collect these fees. All the money goes to the state of Tennessee, though. But it’s county employees doing it, and we are trying to get a piece of that back here.”
A Real Estate Transfer Fee is a one-time tax that is imposed by the state on the transfer of property. Foster said since all 95 counties are advocating for the need for more revenue, he believes the state may make the change.
“All these things are just vitally important to getting these type of things back here,” Foster said. “And absolutely, our legislator, our state legislator, absolutely respects the opinions of the county mayors, and if we speak with one voice, it’s important to them, and they listen. Like I said, we’ve got great representation, and they work so good with us.”
Cumberland County is one of the few counties in the state that has not raised property taxes over the past several years. Foster said Cumberland County would use the real estate transfer fee to improve county roads.
“There are about 1,100 roads, 1,700 miles of roads that are county roads in Cumberland County,” Foster said. “So it’s just like maintenance on anything. You have to maintain them, and to maintain them, you need the funding. So we are trying to find sources that will fund those roads, and this is a great way to do it.”
Foster said he enjoyed attending the conference as he collaborated with other county mayors and executives. Foster said oftentimes he realizes a lot of the counties have similar issues. Foster said among other issues discussed were energy needs and ways to keep county insurance claims down.
