DWS Announces Students and Teacher of the Month

September 27, 2023
By: Bill Conger

DeKalb West School has announced the Students of the Month for September. Congratulations goes to Myla Marsh, PreK; Clayton Patterson, Kindergarten; Archer Moore, 1st grade; Dyllan Bates, 2nd grade; Jacob Blair, 3rd grade; Shaniya Bates, 4th; Bradi Turney, 5th grade; Christian Cripps, 6th grade, Gabriel Blair, 7th grade, and Aiden Hernandez, 8th grade.

Students are selected for the award based on academics, character, and other traits that make for an excellent student. Also, in September, first year educator Ashley Nokes was named Teacher of the Month. Mrs. Nokes joined the staff at DeKalb West as a first-grade teacher.

September 27, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

It’s tax time in DeKalb County!

2023 property tax notices will be going out in the mail Friday, September 29 bearing the color of forest green, which has a special meaning to Trustee Sean Driver.

Property taxes will be due and payable starting October 1, 2023 through February 29, 2024 before any interest becomes due on March 1, 2024. Interest will accrue on March 1, 2024 @ 1.5% per month. If you choose to mail in your tax payment, it must be postmarked on or prior to February 29, 2024 to avoid any accrued interest.

For 2023, the tax rate is 2.00% per $100.00 of your assessed value. The tax notices include an example provided by Trustee Sean Driver on how the property taxes are calculated.

Example: Appraisal Value————$175,000 X (multiply) Assessed Value @25%—-$43,750 X Residential Tax Rate @ 2.00%——$875 Tax Amount to Pay.

“The is hope in nature. A warm welcome and happy day goes out to all the fine folks of DeKalb County from your Trustee, Sean Driver. Once again, I am going to give the yearly changes on the property taxes. The 2023 property taxes will be mailed out on September 29, 2023 for annual collection. For the 2023 Tax Year, you will see the color ‘Forest Green’ on the property tax notices. I chose ‘Forest Green’ this year because what the color represents to me personally. If we can sometimes go to a place where we can view the beautiful scenery of this wonderful earth, we should realize there is HOPE. Whether, its from a mountaintop, a valley, a stream of water, a cluster of trees, a bed of flowers, or the end of day sunset, we can see the freshness of nature. This gives us the hope, harmony, and growth to serve and live for something that was established for us all and so pure many years ago,” said Driver.

The Trustee’s office offers up to 6 different options to pay your property taxes:

1. Come in person to the office to pay

2. Mail in your payment

3. Pay online @ www.tennesseetrustee.org, then select DeKalb and follow the instructions to the next screens – The Vendor BIS/I3 Verticals accepts Discover, MasterCard, Visa, or American Express – The Vendor convenience fee of 2.75% on the total tax bill will apply and fees are subject to change using Credit/Debit Cards. Also, a $2.75 fee will be assessed on an E-CHECK payment of any amount. DeKalb County does not collect any online payment fees.

4. A QR (Quick Response Code) is also on your notice to access the website with your I-phone, smartphone, etc. @ www.tennesseetrustee.org

5 A Dropbox is located on the outside of the building at the County Complex (County Offices Section) for your convenience after hours and/or weekends.

6. Partial Payments are accepted, and you the taxpayer sets the amount to pay until full payment is satisfied.

Eligibility for Property Tax Relief:
The State of Tennessee offers qualified property owners Tax Relief on property taxes. This program was implemented in 1973 and the program has a few changes every year. At this time, DeKalb County has 403 applicants on the program for 2023. So, as a property owner for 2023, you can qualify for Tax Relief if:

(A) Your DeKalb County home is your primary residence,

(B) You are 65 years old (or older) on or before December 31, 2023, or

(C) You are under 65 years of age with a totally and permanently disability per SSA or another qualifying agency, and last

(D) Your 2022 Annual Income of all living owners on the deed and their spouses that DID NOT exceed $33,460.00.

If the State of Tennessee qualifies you for Tax Relief, then you can receive a rebate up to $104.00 for the 2023 tax year. You must pay your 2023 tax bill in full to start the application process. Applications are handled, executed, and sent to the State of Tennessee by the Trustee’s office.

The State of Tennessee also offers Tax Relief to Disabled Veterans and the Surviving Spouses of a Disabled Veteran. You must provide proof from the Veteran’s Administration that you have a total and permanent disability rating that was service connected. You and your spouse do NOT have to report any amount of income to apply as a disabled veteran or the widow/er of a disabled veteran. If the State of Tennessee qualifies you as a disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran, then you can receive a rebate up to $589.00 for 2023.

Meanwhile, DeKalb County has implemented a “Tax Freeze” program authorized by the state and Trustee Driver explains the qualifications for that.

NEW 2023 PROGRAM: ‘TAX FREEZE’

• Established through voters in the State of Tennessee through a referendum passage in 2007

•The Program is only for ELDERLY – 65 years or older

•Income Limit (2022 Annual Income) is $33,460.00. All owners on the property

•Can only have Tax Freeze on your primary/principal residence

•The TAX AMOUNT is Frozen. The property value, assessment, and tax rate are Not Frozen.

•You can apply or have both Tax Relief and Tax Freeze.

•Applications are administered and executed by the Trustee’s office.

•There are acreage limits that can be frozen.

The Trustee’s office will start accepting applications for the Tax Relief & Tax Freeze Programs on October 2, 2023 and will continue through April 5, 2024. If you would like to inquire more about a possible Tax Relief for property taxes or about the New Tax Freeze Program, come by the County Complex in the Trustee’s office @ 732 S. Congress Blvd – Room 103, Smithville, TN 37166 or call @ 615-597-5176.

September 26, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

County Mayor Matt Adcock was Re-elected Chairman of the DeKalb County Commission Monday night.

Sixth district commissioner Jeff Barnes, the longest serving member of the commission at 21 years, was returned as Chairman Pro Temp, replacing Fifth district member Larry Green who served in that role this past year. Barnes had previously served as Chairman Pro Temp for several years. Barnes would preside over county commission meetings in the absence of the chairman.

The county commission reorganizes each September naming a chairman and chairman pro temp to serve for the ensuing 12 months.

In other business, the commission approved the county mayor’s committee appointments as follows:

Budget Committee: Jeff Barnes (Committee Chairman), Susannah Cripps Daughtry (Vice Chairman), and Sabrina Farler along with Glynn Merriman replacing Larry Green, Tony (Cully) Culwell replacing Greg Matthews, Tim Reynolds replacing Beth Pafford, and Tom Chandler replacing Daniel Cripps.

Audit Committee: Trevor Glover (citizen member), Justin Adcock, Myron Rhody, and Daniel Cripps. Gone from the committee are Beth Pafford, Tony Luna and citizen member Tom Janey from this past year.

Community Economic Development: Tony Luna (Chairman), Greg Matthews (Vice Chairman), Beth Pafford, Justin Adcock, and Susannah Cripps Daughtry. Gone from the committee are Glynn Merriman, Tom Chandler, and Tony Culwell.

UT Agriculture Extension Committee: Tony Culwell and Tony Luna replacing Myron Rhody, Jeff Barnes, and Daniel Cripps.

Purchasing Committee: Matt Adcock (County Mayor), Danny Hale (Road Supervisor), Patrick Cripps (Director of Schools), Myron Rhody, Larry Green, and Jeff Barnes. Tom Chandler is gone from the committee.

Public Works Committee: Glynn Merriman (Chairman), Tim Reynolds (Vice Chairman), Sabrina Farler, Tom Chandler, Justin Adcock, Jeff Barnes, and Myron Rhody. Gone from the committee are Tony Luna and Tony (Cully) Culwell.

Health, Education, and Public Welfare Committee: Larry Green (Chairman), Tom Chandler (Vice Chairman), Jeff Barnes, Tim Reynolds, Glynn Merriman, Myron Rhody, and Daniel Cripps. Gone from the committee are Greg Matthews, Susannah Cripps Daughtry, Justin Adcock, and Sabrina Farler.

Government Services Committee: Sabrina Farler (Chairman), Daniel Cripps (Vice Chairman), Larry Green, Greg Matthews, and Tom Chandler. Gone from the committee are Janice Fish Stewart (citizen member), Beth Pafford, and Susannah Cripps Daughtry.

Planning Commission: Rick Cantrell (citizen member), Danny Pirtle (citizen member), Harold Bain (citizen member), Alan Webb (citizen member), Jack Barton (citizen member), Beth Pafford, Greg Matthews, Justin Adcock, and Susannah Cripps Daughtry. Gone from the planning commission are Glynn Merriman, Tom Chandler, and Tony (Cully) Culwell.

Ethics Committee: Brandon Cox (General Sessions Court Judge), Greg Matthews, Jack Barton (citizen member), Larry Green, and Tony (Cully) Culwell. Gone from the committee are Debra Malone (Clerk and Master), Timothy Reynolds, and Glynn Merriman.

911 Board: Jeff Barnes and Sabrina Farler

Other appointees also confirmed by the commission are County Attorney Hilton Conger, County Fire Chief Donny Green, County EMS Director Hoyte Hale, County EMA Director Charlie Parker, and Solid Waste Director James Goff.

Membership constituting the DeKalb County Beer Board is changing.

During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the County Commission approved County Mayor Matt Adcock’s request to abolish the current citizen member makeup of the beer board and make the county commission itself the beer board.

For years the beer board had consisted of one citizen member from each of the seven districts in the county. The standing members of the board had been Jim Stagi in the 1st District, Myron Rhody in the 2nd District, Bobby Johnson in the 3rd District, Robert Rowe in the 4th District, John Hummer in the 5th District, Leonard Dickens in the 6th District, and Johnny King in the 7th District.

All seven members served as appointees of the county commission and the two-year terms were staggered with the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th district positions being appointed in odd years. The 2nd, 4th, and 6th district seats were filled in even years.

County Mayor Adcock said he believes the beer board would function better if the county commission itself served as the beer board.

The change becomes effective immediately and the next time a beer board action is needed the matter will come before the regular monthly meeting of the county commission for a decision.

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