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June 2008

Sales Tax Increase?

Submitted by Gene Patterson on June 18, 2008 - 1:56am

Knox County Commissioner Mike Hammond says he'll propose a half-cent increase in the sales tax as a way to generate additional revenue.

In exchange for the increase, Hammond says, the wheel tax would be eliminated.

He'll ask Commissioners to place the question on the November ballot for the voters to decide.

He says a half-cent increase would generate more than 30 million dollars each year.

Hammond's proposal would not affect this year's budget.

Hammond is the second Commissioner to call for the elimination of the wheel tax.

Earlier, Commissioner Paul Pinkston proposed elimin

UT Renovating Office Space for $300,000

Submitted by Gene Patterson on June 7, 2008 - 1:10am

They say timing is everything in life.

Sheriff's Pension Plan

Submitted by Gene Patterson on June 2, 2008 - 9:41pm

An interesting observation made today by Commissioner Craig Leuthold and Finance Director John Troyer during Commission's budget hearing.

Leuthold asked Troyer what the cost of the Sheriff's Office's defined pension plan was on an annual basis.

Troyer answered by saying the promise made by Knox County voters when they approved the defined plan, amounted to 131 million dollars.

To cover the cost, Mayor Ragsdale opted to take out a 20 year bond of 57 million dollars and absorb the Sheriff's Office employees existing plan of 30 million dollars.

But that still left the county more tha