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Huntingdon Approves $5.8 Million Budget with No Tax Increase

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HUNTINGDON (August 16) — Huntingdon Town Council approved the 2022-23 fiscal year budget totaling $5,880,600 and a property tax rate of $1.2487 per $100 assessed value. 
 
Along with the budget, the Council approved increases in the water and sewer rates effective September 1. That was approved on the first of two readings. The increases match the increase cost of living.
 
In the meeting, the 2021-22 budget was amended to reflect actual revenues and expenses through the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2022. The budget ended with $5,928,540 in revenue, and $4,607,750 in expenses for a net revenues over expenses of $1,375,490 including $568,948 in federal American Rescue Plan funds in the amount of $568,948 for future projects.
 
One of the highlights of the new budget is the elimination of the town’s financial responsibility to the debt service of Lake Halford. Last fiscal year, the town funded the lake at $470,747 to cover the shortfall in revenues of the Carroll County Watershed Authority (CCWA) to meet its portion of the payment on the outstanding $11 million debt obligation. The Town was the co-signor on the financing bonds. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency TWRA purchased the lake for $11 million and assumed operations on July 1. However, the funds from TWRA have not yet been paid to the CCWA.
 
Anticipated major expenses in the 2022-23 budget include repairs to the city’s sewer system, including an estimated $2,000,000 for in the installation of automatic water meter reading equipment. Repairs to two sewer lagoons is estimated at $1,200,000. 
 
Town employees will receive a raise of 30 cents per hour plus the continued benefit of approximately $8,850 for health insurance and $50,000 in life insurance.
 
The city has budgeted the purchase of an additional pumper truck for the fire department, and seventeen vehicles for various departments, purchased through capital outlay notes. Randy Crossett told Council members the large trucks are much cheaper through state bid than those on dealer lots. Many governmental entities are experiencing delays in delivery of new vehicles. 
 
Smothers announced the city will experience further financial relief when The Dixie Performing Arts Center’s indebtedness for construction is retired in four years. DPAC is now entering its 17th year of operation.
 
Vice-Mayor Nina Smothers served as chairman of the meeting in the absence of Mayor Dale Kelley. Others members in attendance were John Sanders, Andrew Maddox, Will Atkins, Charles Hodges, and Kelly Eubanks.