WORKING TOGETHER FOR A STRONGER LAWRENCE COUNTY AND TENNESSEE

One thing I’ve learned during my time as County Executive is that good government requires more than good intentions. It requires education, cooperation, thoughtful leadership, and a willingness to work together for the people we represent.
Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Tennessee County Services Association Conference, where county leaders from across our great state gathered to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities facing local government.
These conferences provide tremendous opportunities to learn from one another, hear from state leaders, better understand legislative priorities, and discover ways to improve the services we provide our citizens.
But what encouraged me most wasn’t simply what I learned. It was the participation of our own Lawrence County Commission.
Several of our commissioners made the commitment to attend, investing their time in learning more about county government and the responsibilities entrusted to them by our citizens. I cannot tell you how encouraging that is to me!
Serving in county government requires making difficult decisions about budgets, infrastructure, education, public safety, and the future of our communities. The more informed our elected officials become, the better equipped we are to make those decisions.
An educated, engaged, and unified commission is one of the greatest assets a county can have.
I’m genuinely excited about the level of participation we’re seeing from our commissioners. Their willingness to learn, ask questions, build relationships, and bring new ideas home speaks volumes about their commitment to Lawrence County.
We won’t always agree on every issue, nor should we expect to. But when we approach our responsibilities with mutual respect and a shared commitment to the citizens we serve, there is very little we cannot accomplish together.
And I believe our best days are still ahead!
A MAJOR OPPORTUNITY FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF
One of the most significant developments from last week’s meetings came during our County Mayors Association meeting.
Our association passed a proposal supporting a reduction in Tennessee’s residential property tax assessment ratio from the current 25% to 15%.
Let me explain why this matters.
Currently, residential property in Tennessee is assessed for taxation at 25% of its appraised value. Under the proposed change, that assessment would be reduced to 15%.
That’s a 40% reduction in the taxable assessed value of residential property!
For example, a home appraised at $300,000 currently has an assessed value of $75,000. Under the proposed 15% assessment, that same home would have an assessed value of just $45,000.
That’s a $30,000 reduction in the value upon which property taxes are calculated.
If tax rates remained unchanged, the property tax bill on that home would decrease by 40%.
Of course, changing Tennessee’s assessment structure will require action at the state level, and the actual impact on homeowners will depend on how tax rates are adjusted. But the opportunity to provide meaningful property tax relief is one worth pursuing.
I’m particularly excited to share that I will be serving alongside a team of county mayors and executives from across Tennessee to help lead this effort through the legislative process.
We intend to work with our state legislators, build support, address the challenges, and do everything within our ability to move this proposal across the finish line.
We understand that such a significant change will require careful consideration of how local governments fund essential services. We must protect our schools, emergency services, law enforcement, and other critical responsibilities while working to reduce the burden on homeowners.
But I believe we can have both responsible government and meaningful tax relief.
GROWTH SHOULD CREATE OPPORTUNITY, NOT JUST HIGHER COSTS
There’s no question that Tennessee has experienced tremendous growth over the last several years.
People are moving here because of our economic opportunities, our quality of life, our values, and the freedoms we enjoy.
That’s something we should celebrate!
But growth also brings challenges, and those challenges are increasingly being felt by everyday Tennesseans.
Housing costs have risen. Insurance premiums have increased. Groceries, utilities, transportation, and nearly everything else required to support a family have become more expensive.
And for many homeowners, rising property values have created additional concerns about the future of their property tax bills.
A family’s home should be a place of security, not a growing source of financial anxiety.
I believe we have a responsibility to recognize these pressures and pursue reasonable solutions that allow families to keep more of their hard-earned money.
I’ve consistently believed that government should live within its means, prioritize essential services, and remain accountable to the taxpayers who fund it.
That philosophy hasn’t changed.
In Lawrence County, we’ve worked to maintain strong financial reserves, invest in essential infrastructure, improve county services, and keep our property tax rate as low as responsibly possible.
Our current property tax rate of $1.48 is the lowest documented certified rate in Lawrence County history.
But our work isn’t finished.
The opportunity to help lead a statewide effort to reduce residential property tax assessments is one I take seriously. I believe it represents the kind of forward-thinking leadership our citizens deserve.
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
I returned from the conference more encouraged than ever about the future of Lawrence County and the great state of Tennessee.
We have tremendous opportunities ahead of us. Economic development continues to create possibilities for our communities. Investments in education, infrastructure, and public safety are laying the foundation for future generations.
And perhaps most importantly, we have elected officials who are willing to put in the work necessary to move our county forward.
I’m grateful for the commissioners who attended this conference and for the commitment they’re demonstrating to the people of Lawrence County. I’m also grateful for the relationships we’ve developed with county leaders across Tennessee and the opportunities those relationships create for our citizens.
My father taught me something years ago that continues to guide my approach to leadership:
“Change is inevitable, but progress is optional.”
Tennessee is changing. Lawrence County is changing. The question before us is whether we’ll simply react to those changes or work together to ensure they produce meaningful progress.
I choose progress.
I choose cooperation over division, responsible spending over unnecessary taxation, and long-term opportunity over short-term thinking.
And I believe the people of Lawrence County deserve nothing less.
As we look toward the upcoming legislative session, I’m excited about the opportunity to advocate for meaningful property tax relief while continuing to work with our County Commission to strengthen the future of Lawrence County.
Growth should benefit the people who call Tennessee home, not price them out of the communities they’ve spent their lives building.
That’s a principle worth fighting for, and I’m honored to be part of the effort.
Our future is bright, our opportunities are great, and I remain convinced that the best days for Lawrence County and Tennessee are still ahead.
God bless you, God bless Lawrence County, and God bless the great state of Tennessee!