Blount County Board of Commissioners | 02-19-26

The Blount County Board of Commissioners held a meeting on February 19, 2026, which included significant discussions on property tax reappraisal policies. A key agenda item was the consideration of moving to a two-year property reappraisal cycle to address market value fluctuations and avoid a state-mandated sales ratio adjustment that negatively impacts the county's revenue and veterans' tax relief programs. The county property assessor explained the rationale behind more frequent reappraisals, emphasizing market-driven valuations and the goal of stabilizing tax impacts over time. The commission debated the potential benefits and drawbacks, including concerns from residents about rising property taxes, especially for fixed-income and retired citizens. After public input and commissioner deliberations, the board voted to adopt the resolution to implement the two-year reappraisal cycle, making Blount County one of the first in Tennessee to do so. Additionally, the board approved several budget-related resolutions, including capital improvements for school facilities, purchase of sheriff's office vehicles, and a multi-year insurance brokerage contract with Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services LLC. Other zoning and land use resolutions were also adopted during the meeting.