Hawkins Co. passes budget with property tax increase

HAWKINS COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) – The Hawkins County Commission finalized and passed the 2024-25 budget Monday night, following delays that stemmed from property tax concerns.

The finalized budget does include a property tax increase of .2299 or just under 23 cents, according to Hawkins County Mayor Mark DeWitte.

Previously, the proposed tax increase had been 34 cents. However, several commissioners expressed concerns about that figure, ultimately driving it down. Citizens and community organizations also opposed that initial increase, with one organization calling it “absurd” at a June meeting to discuss the budget.

Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson had also asked the commission earlier in July for assistance raising pay for his department. Lawson told commissioners on July 1 that he was down 11 positions and was having trouble keeping employees with other agencies offering more pay in the surrounding jurisdictions.

The commission allocated $1.5 million for the sheriff’s office to improve pay, slightly less than the $1.7 Lawson had sought.

DeWitte told News Channel 11 that two new county positions were cut as part of the budget amendments. One of the cut positions was from the accounting and finance department and one was in emergency management.

According to DeWitte, both of those positions would have been primarily funded by giving up money for part-time help.

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