CORRECTION: The first version of this newsletter included a wrong date for the rescheduled time capsule burial. It will take place on July 31. The story below has been corrected to reflect this. We apologize for the inconvenience. | | Budgets, tax rates approved | | The Financial Management Committee held a special called meeting just prior to the June 30 called commission meeting. (Bedford County Government photo) | | |
On June 30, Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved $198 million in budgets for the 2026-27 fiscal year which begins July 1, while holding the line on taxes.
This was a reappraisal year, with most Bedford County property owners receiving higher appraisals of their property values. The reappraisal process is intended to be revenue-neutral – it’s carefully regulated and is meant to be an accurate measure of what a property is worth, not a way to generate more tax dollars. So, during reappraisal years, the state assigns each reappraised county a target “certified tax rate” which would raise about the same amount of money when applied to the new values that the old rate raised with the old values. Any new rate higher than the certified tax rate would be considered a tax increase for most property owners, even if the rate itself looks lower than the previous year’s rate.
Last year’s property tax rate was $2.3252 per $100 assessed value; this year’s certified tax rate, as provided by the state, is $1.5083 per $100 assessed value, and that’s what commissioners approved last month. The fact that commissioners held to the certified rate means that the average county property owner should not see much change in their property tax bill – unless their property value rose more or less than the average, or they made improvements which altered the value of their property.
Here are the individual budget funds approved at the special called June 30 meeting:
- General Purpose School Fund $106,880,712
- General Fund $43,637,966
- General Debt Service $22,215,494
- Child Nutrition $8,433,071
- Education Capital Projects $6,590,432
- Highway/Public Works $5,055,535
- County Capital Projects $4,719,639
- School Age Care Program $672,282
- Drug Control Fund $250
TOTAL: $198,205,381
The tax rate breaks down as follows:
- County General Fund $0.9276
- General Purpose Schools $0.4022
- General Debt Service $0.0973
- Highway/Public Works $0.0584
- County Capital Project $0.0228
TOTAL: $1.5083 per $100 assessed value
Keep in mind that assessed value is not the same thing as appraised value. Assessed value is a fraction of appraised value depending on what type of property (residential, commercial, agricultural) is being discussed. For residential property, the assessed value is 25 percent of the appraised value.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, commissioners also approved last-minute amendments to the 2025-26 school and county general budgets, bringing them into balance as the old fiscal year closes. Such amendments account for unexpected revenues or expenditures.
The vote to set the tax rate and the vote to appropriate money to each separate fund were each passed by a 17-0 margin. A later vote to approve the full, line-item budgets was approved 15-2.
Commissioners also approved a series of routine annual resolutions related to the budget and the fiscal year. Prior to the full commission meeting, the Financial Management Committee held a special called meeting to recommend the budget amendments.
A video of the June 30 commission meeting is embedded below.
| | Time capsule ceremony rescheduled | | |
Inclement weather derailed the time capsule ceremony which was to have taken place on July 3 as part of "Stars & Stripes and Shelbyville Nights." Musical entertainment was moved indoors, to the Fly Arts Center, and the time capsule burial has been rescheduled for July 31 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Plans are underway to make the rescheduled ceremony special.
The time capsule, scheduled to be opened on America's 300th birthday in 2076, contains items submitted by local individuals and organizations.
Shelbyville, Wartrace and Bell Buckle all held celebrations on July 4, the 250th anniversary of American independence. County government assists each year with the cost of the fireworks show for Shelbyville's celebration at H.V. Griffin Park.
"We all love Independence Day, and this year’s milestone 250th birthday made the occasion even more special," said County Mayor Chad Graham. "Local Independence Day celebrations, whether in Shelbyville, or Bell Buckle, or Wartrace, say something about who we are as a nation, but are also a tribute to the local communities that come together and work so hard to put them on. I’m disappointed that we weren’t able to bury the time capsule on the 3rd as scheduled, but I know we’ll have a reschedule date to announce soon.”
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The next elections on this year's schedule will be Aug. 6, with early voting from July 17 through Aug. 1.
This election will be a party primary for state and federal offices (such as governor, state representative, U.S. House and U.S. Senate races). It will also be a general election for county races (such as county mayor, sheriff, assessor of property and county commission). Bell Buckle will also have a general town election on that day.
Tuesday, July 7 is the last day for voters to register in time to vote in this election.
Early voting will take place July 17 through Aug. 1 at the county election office in the basement of Bedford County Courthouse Annex (the black-and-white building on the west side of the Shelbyville square). Park in the rear of the building, and you can enter at basement level, without need for steps or the elevator.
Hours will be 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-noon on Saturdays.
Election day voting will take place at your local precinct location. Hours will be 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. (Nashville TV stations sometimes emphasize Nashville's start time, which is earlier. In Bedford County, voting does not start until 9 a.m.) If you are not sure about your precinct location, or whether you are registered, you can go to tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup to look up and confirm your voter status. You must go to your precinct location if you are voting on Election Day -- no one will be voting at the election office that day.
You will need to confirm which primary election (Republican or Democrat) you intend to vote in.
To see sample ballots with a list of candidates, or for more information, go to bedfordcountytn.gov/departments/elections
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Bedford County Fair will take place July 13-18 at Bedford County Agriculture and Education Center on Midland Road.
Although the fair is run by a private, independent not-for-profit organization, the Ag Center is owned and operated by the county, which has worked closely with the Fair Board over the years to make improvements to the property. The possibility of a county fair as well as other youth-related agriculture activities throughout the year, was one of the primary motivations for the county to create the ag center. Some people think of the fair only as the carnival midway, but it's really the various agricultural competitions -- everything from youth-raised livestock to the bounty of garden-raised produce -- which are the heart and soul of a county fair.
That doesn't mean that there's not fun to be had, with carnival rides, live entertainment, vendors and exhibits, and numerous food trucks and tents.
For more information about fair activities, go to bedfordcountytnfair.org.
For more information about the Ag Center, which is available for rental, go to bedfordcountytn.gov/departments/agriculture_and_education_center.php
| | Musician performs for inmates, public | |
Last fall, acclaimed composer, pianist and inspirational speaker Eric Genuis appeared at Bedford County Jail to perform for inmates, under the auspices of his not-for-profit Concerts For Hope, which organizes such concerts at jails and prisons nationwide.
Genuis will return to Bedford County this month -- and this time, the public will also have an opportunity to hear him perform with an ensemble. After performing concerts at the jail, Genuis will appear in concert 6 p.m. Friday, July 17, at First United Methodist Church on the square in Shelbyville. There is no admission charge, but those in attendance will be given information about Concerts For Hope and how to support it.
Genuis, on piano, will be accompanied by a violinist, cellist and vocalist.
For more information, contact Sylvia Pinson, 931-580-9696.
| | New graduate? Looking for new career choices? Maybe you belong in Bedford County government! At our jobs page, bedfordcountytn.mysmarthire.com/jobs/, you can see and apply for all open positions with county government. New positions are added frequently, so bookmark the site and check back often. (Photo by Rufino, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons) | | |
Here are some upcoming dates of interest:
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July 13-18: Bedford County Fair, Bedford County Agriculture and Education Center, bedfordcountytnfair.org for schedule and more information
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July 14: Bedford County Board of Commissioners regular monthly meeting, 7 p.m., historic Bedford County Courthouse
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July 16: Board of Zoning Appeals, 5:30 p.m., historic Bedford County Courthouse
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July 16: Wastewater Advisory Committee, 5:30 p.m., historic Bedford County Courthouse
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July 17-August 1: Early voting for August 6 election, Bedford County Courthouse Annex
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July 17: Eric Genuis in concert, 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church on the square in Shelbyville
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July 21: Rules and Legislative Committee, Public Safety Committee, and Courthouse and County Property Committee, 5 p.m., historic Bedford County Courthouse, Shelbyville
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July 28: Financial Management Committee, 4:15 p.m., Bedford County Business Complex, 200 Dover Street, Shelbyville, Room 110, followed by a budget study session
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July 28: Planning Commission, 7 p.m., historic Bedford County Courthouse
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July 31: Time Capsule ceremony, 4:30 p.m., south lawn of historic Bedford County Courthouse
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August 6: Election Day, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., at assigned precinct locations
You can get more information about upcoming dates on the calendar at our county website, www.bedfordcountytn.gov/calendar.php
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Bedford County Update is published once a month and includes information and features about county government. It's intended to serve the citizens of Bedford County. We may also use this platform for special timely announcements, but we promise not to overload you with too many messages. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of this e-mail.
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