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Alicia Summers, vice president of business development for the Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership, presents members of the county's Budget Committee details of a payment-in-lieu of taxes agreement being offered to a German manufacturer.
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Washington County Budget Committee

Budget Committee backs tax deal, takes another month on K-8 school

Washington County is competing with a community in Texas and another county in Tennessee to land the global company, which makes heating and cooling components.

Apr 10, 2019 at 7:04 PM
Washington County Budget Committee members Commissioner Freddie Malone, left, Commissioner Larry England, Mayor Joe Grandy and Commissioner Jim Wheeler at Wednesday's meeting.
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Washington County Budget Committee

Commission workshop planned for Jonesborough K-8

The Budget Committee is looking at dates to hold a workshop to explore the county’s options for funding Scheme 6, the county’s Board of Education’s preferred plan for a new K-8 school in Jonesborough. Committee members said they hope to schedule a workshop involving all their colleagues on the County Commission on March 29 or April 1.

Mar 13, 2019 at 6:41 PM
Members of Washington County's Budget Commttee — Commissioner Larry England (left), Mayor Joe Grandy, Commissioner Jim Wheeler and Commissioner Steve Light — discuss funding options for a K-8 school in Jonesborough at their meeting Thursday.
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Washington County Budget Committee

Budget Committee seeks options to fund school plan

 Earlier, Budget Committee members heard a presentation from Mitch Meredith, the county’s finance and administration director, who said Washington County would need to borrow at least $56.2 million to fund Scheme 6 for the Jonesborough K-8 and related projects. Borrowing that amount would require the county to move 13 pennies of the county’s $2.38 property tax rate from capital projects to debt service.

Feb 15, 2019 at 12:40 AM
Washington County Register of Deeds Teresa Bowan holds an example of a photo identification card she is issuing to veterans who file their discharge papers with her office.
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Washington County Budget Committee

'Thank a Vet' program launches in Washington County

Veterans who participate will be issued a identification card that could earn them as much as a 20 percent discount on purchases from businesses that enroll in the program. Bowman encourages veterans to call her at 753-1644 to learn more about the program, and to get a list of participating businesses.

Jan 16, 2019 at 8:08 PM
Members of the Washington County Budget Committee — Commissioner Larry England, Mayor Joe Grandy, Commissioner Jim Wheeler and Commissioner Freddie Malone — discuss spending requests from the county's Board of Education on Wednesday.
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Washington County Budget Committee

Commissioners to consider TIF for John Sevier Center

The $4.6 million TIF project includes the Johnson City Development Authority’s purchase of the low-income apartment building at 141 E. Market St., as well as cover closing costs and work to make necessary improvements to the former hotel. The JCDA is requesting county commissioners amend portions of the 2008 redevelopment and urban renewal plan to bring it up to date with a state TIF law passed in 2012.

Dec 5, 2018 at 11:33 PM
Washington County's Budget Committee, which includes Commissioner Jim Wheeler, right, Mayor Joe Grandy and Commissioner Freddie Malone, met Wednesday to approve spending items.
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Washington County Budget Committee

Budget Committee greenlights Jonesborough paving project

The Budget Committee also approved a request from the town Jonesborough for the county Highway Department to do paving work that would tie into East Maint Street, down Franklin Avenue to Spring Street. Town officials say they hope the county coud get the project completed before winter sets in.

Nov 14, 2018 at 5:47 PM
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Washington County Budget Committee

District attorney general offices to move soon

The Washington County Budget Committee voted Wednesday to approve a four-year lease agreement. The deal calls for the county to pay the state half the cost for the lease, which comes to $69,882 annually.

Jul 12, 2018 at 6:00 AM
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Washington County Budget Committee

Washington County closes books on current fiscal year

The Budget Committee approved a number of resolutions for line-item budget transfers to end the budget year. As a result of the amendments, Mitch Meredith, the county’s director of finance and administration, said the general fund budget will be more than $400,000 in the black to end fiscal 2018.

Updated Jun 13, 2018 at 5:47 PM
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Washington County Budget Committee

Washington County budget: No tax hike or pay raises

A public hearing on the county’s proposed budget will be held June 20 at 9 a.m. in Courtroom 7 of the George Jaynes Justice Center. County commissioners are expected to vote on the new budget at their regular monthly meeting on June 25.

Updated Jun 7, 2018 at 11:11 AM
Washington County Sessions Court Judges Don Arnold, Robert Lincoln and James Nidiffer.
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Washington County Budget Committee

Sessions Court judges are asking for an assistant

Washington County Circuit Clerk Karen Guinn is seeking a new position in the proposed 2018-19 budget to lend a hand to the county’s three Session Court judges. Guinn told members of the county’s Budget Committee on Wednesday she had created an assistant’s position at the request of Judges Robert Lincoln, James Nidiffer and Robert Arnold.

May 31, 2018 at 12:00 AM
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Washington County

What's going on with Washington County property tax growth?

Washington County Mayor Dan Eldridge told members of the county’s Budget Committee there are several issues they should keep an eye on. One of the most troubling, he said, is the county’s anemic property tax growth. Eldridge said while investments have grown, property taxes are projected to increase by just $70,000 in the new fiscal year.

May 23, 2018 at 9:41 AM
Washington County Mayor Dan Eldridge
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Washington County Budget Committee

Washington County facing $780,000 budget deficit

Mitch Meredith, the county’s director of finance and administration, said the proposed general fund budget does include some savings in the new fiscal year, which begins July 1. One comes from downsizing the County Commission from 25 to 15 members. The move will result in a $38,880 reduction in the new budget for commission salaries and benefits.

May 16, 2018 at 11:48 PM
An aerial view of the Washington County Detention Center depicts the various phases the project will be completed.
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Washington County Detention Center

Budget panel recommends spending $1.09 million to replace Washington County Detention Center roof

Randy Christiansen, Burleson Construction Company’s director of building information modeling, said the cost of the new roof would not exceed $1,096,065 and could be completed in three phases.

Updated Aug 17, 2017 at 1:08 AM
Washington County Board of Education member Clarence Mabe questions reductions in school construction costs at Wednesday's Budget Committee meeting. Left to right, Sheriff Ed Grabeal and County Commissioners Robbie McGuire and Lynn Hodge listen.
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Washington County Schools

Committee recommends shaving debt from county school funding

The Washington County Budget Committee on Wednesday agreed to send to the County Commission a resolution that would cap borrowing for three new and renovated schools at $78 million — a move aimed at keeping the county’s bond rating safe and its per capita debt manageable.

Jan 11, 2017 at 10:49 PM
Four areas of Washington County have been identified for proposed water line extensions. All map pins are approximations.
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Washington County

Washington County seeks financial route for rural water lines

A proposal for Washington County to spend about $778,000 for Johnson City, Kingsport and Jonesborough to extend water lines to rural parts of the county was put on hold Wednesday in lieu of a survey that will measure how many rural households qualify for federal assistance.

Dec 7, 2016 at 10:38 PM
Johnson City Press Videos