That didnât end up being the case.
âRevenues during FY21 have been extraordinarily better than what we budgeted and significantly better than what we would have normally anticipated in a normal year,â City Manager Pete Peterson said.
Why? Peterson thinks there are a few reasons.
With people being unable to travel, discretionary money traditionally spent elsewhere has gone to local retailers. Stimulus dollars from the federal government and enhanced unemployment benefits have also kept spending levels up, and the state is now in the first full year of new rules for online sales tax collection, which has further boosted revenues.
Washington County leaders would like to see a professional evaluation of separate plans to improve firefighting services in the county.
Specifically, Washington County commissioners want to know the cost breakdown of a plan to add paid firefighters to volunteer departments. The county is now operating under a two-year-old pilot program that partners the county with Washington County/Johnson City Emergency Medical Services for additional firefighting help.
Commissioners Vote To Take Action
County commissioners voted in March to pass a resolution asking Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy to engage the University of Tennesseeâs County Technical Assistance Service and other related organizations, including the Washington County Fire Chiefâs Association, to âdevelop information relevant to fire safetyâ and the employment of full-time firefighters in Washington County.