If you have received a card in the mail within the last few days that resembles a property tax bill, look a littler closer. What you have is actually a notice of a Tennessee Assessment Change Notice regarding your property.
DeKalb County is among nine other counties in Tennessee undergoing a current value update (CVU) for the 2008 tax year.
When a county is on a six year reappraisal cycle, such as DeKalb County, a current value update is required in the third year of the cycle. This update is applied to those subgroups within the county that have fallen below current market value. Therefore, some properties appraised values may or may not increase in a CVU. Additions and or improvements to your property since the last reappraisal cycle can affect how much you pay in property taxes.
The notice you have received shows the appraised and assessed values for property tax purposes for your property. The assessed value is a percentage of appraised value determined by state law according to the classification of the property (residential, commercial/industrial, farm, or public utility). A local tax rate is then applied to the assessed value to determine the amount of taxes due.
Once reappraisal is completed in the cycle, the state reduces the property tax rate in the cities and county to a new certified rate to generate the same revenues as the previous tax rate. Local governments can set property tax rates higher than the certified rates following public hearings.
DeKalb County’s property tax rate, currently at $1.70, will go to a new certified rate of $1.45. Smithville’s rate will drop from 68 cents to 62 cents and the rate for Alexandria will go from 85 cents to 76 cents per $100 of assessed value.
For more information call 597-5110. You may also file an appeal with the DeKalb County Board of Equalization which will meet June 9th through June 20th from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the courthouse.

The Smithville Board of Mayor and Aldermen Monday night adopted on first reading the proposed 2008-2009 budget.
The vote was 3 to 1 in favor. Aldermen Cecil Burger, Steve White, and Jerry Hutchins, Sr. voted in favor while Alderman Willie Thomas voted no. Alderman Tonya Sullivan was absent.
The new budget totals $6-million 041thousand 360 dollars. Under the new spending plan, the property tax rate will remain the same at 68 cents per $100 of assessed value until the aldermen consider approval of the new certified tax rate, which will be 62 cents as the result of property reappraisal.
The new budget calls for the water and sewer rates to remain the same. City water customers will continue to pay $3.50 for the first one thousand gallons of water usage plus $3.50 for each additional one thousand gallons of usage. Rates for customers outside the city limits are 50% higher. The rate the city charges the DeKalb Utility District is $1.80 per thousand gallons but will increase to $1.85 for January 1st, 2009 sales.
City sewer customers, under the new budget, will continue to pay the flat usage rate of $3.62 plus $3.25 per thousand gallons thereafter.
Water tap fees for customers inside the city limits is $400 for a three quarter inch water line and the sewer tap fee is $400 for a four inch sewer line. If the lines are larger, the fees are cost plus 10%. For customers outside the city limits, water tap fees are $525 for a three quarter inch line and $525 for a four inch sewer line. Again, if the lines are larger, then the fees are cost plus 10%.
The proposed budget calls for city employees with up to four years of service to get their automatic step pay increases as defined in the wage scale plus a 4.3% cost of living increase. City employees with more than four years of service, who have topped out on the wage scale will only get the 4.3% cost of living increase.
Proposed capital outlay expenditures in the general fund for the new year come to $949,000. Specific projects are as follows: Financial Administration- $7,500 including $5,000 for a computer upgrade and $2,500 unspecified; Parks and Recreation- $25,000 unspecified; Public Works/Buildings and Grounds- $15,000 unspecified; City Hall Building Alteration per ADA- $10,000 including $5,000 for handicapped rehabilitation and $5,000 unspecified; Fire Protection- $10,000 unspecified; Street Department- $40,000 including $10,000 for downtown beautification and $30,000 unspecified; Police Department- $14,000 unspecified; Swimming Pool- $10,000 for capital repairs; Airport- $810,000 unspecified (grant funds); Animal Shelter- $5,000 unspecified; Sanitation Fund- $5,000 and Drug Fund- $5,000 unspecified.
Proposed water and sewer fund Fixed Asset Additions: 2 trucks- $10,000; an update of sewer plant equipment- $40,000; an update of the water plant and engineering fees- $300,000; a sewer rehabilitation camera-$20,000. Debt repayment-principal: bonds- $210,000
Although these capital outlay projects are budgeted, they all may not be funded during the year.
Second and final reading action will follow a public hearing at the meeting on Monday, June 16 at 7:00 p.m. at city hall.

June third is Confederate Memorial Day in Tennessee, a “special day of observance” as declared in the Tennessee Code Annotated and as proclaimed by Gov. Bredesen. To honor the patriotic troops who served the Confederacy with honor and distinction, the Savage-Goodner Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans in DeKalb County has placed wreaths to mark the occasion at the Confederate monument on the south side of the DeKalb County Courthouse, the grave of the Unknown Confederate Soldier in the Smithville Town Cemetery, and at the John Hunt Morgan Confederate Monument on the public square in Alexandria.
The designation of June third as Confederate Memorial Day stems from that date being the birthday of Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America. This year holds special significance as it marks the 200th anniversary of the distinguished statesman’s birth. Events are being held all over the South in recognition of one of the truly great political servants of his generation.
Most people do not know about the greatness of the man who would ascend to the Confederacy’s highest office. For example, American history books do not tell of Jim Limber, a young mulatto slave boy whom Davis’ wife, Varina, rescued from an abusive slave owner. The Davises informally adopted young Jim, who took the Davis family name. He resided with the family until the end of the War between the States when Union soldiers forcibly took Jim away. The Davises spent much of the rest of their lives trying to locate their adopted son, but what happened to him remains a mystery. Such is the “true” history of the South that is almost always left out of the history books.

A Smithville man, allegedly involved in a hit and run, was arrested Saturday night after he sideswiped a patrol car while trying to get away in his car and then had to be forced off the road by the officer in pursuit.
49 year old Robert “Bobby” Turner of Smithville is charged with a second offense of DUI, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, evading arrest, and reckless endangerment. Total bond was set at $21,500 and his court date is June 19th. Turner also received a
citation for violation of the implied consent law.
A warrants check on Turner also revealed that he was wanted on outstanding charges in Conway, South Carolina for a failure to appear on a 2nd degree burglary charge. The Sheriff’s Department will also be seeking a Fugitive from Justice warrant here in DeKalb County.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says DeKalb County Central Dispatch, at 5:28 p.m. Saturday, received a call
about a hit and run driver at the intersection of Dry Creek Road and Game Ridge Road, Smithville. The caller stated that someone had hit their vehicle and a male subject who was driving, gave the caller an insurance card and then fled the scene. A county deputy, Roger Whitehead, spotted the hit and run vehicle at the intersection of Short Mountain Road and Whorton Springs Road. Deputy Whitehead was able to get the vehicle stopped and as he
approached the car, Officer Whitehead noticed the driver of the vehicle, Robert “Bobby” Turner, appeared to be under the influence. Deputy Whitehead asked Turner to turn the engine
off but Turner cursed at him. In an attempt to turn the vehicle off before Turner could drive off, Officer Whitehead reached in the vehicle but Turner said he was leaving and pulled off. Officer Whitehead then returned to his car in an attempt to pull Turner over again.
Trooper Shannon Brinkley, who investigated the sideswiping incident, said Officer Whitehead got in pursuit and tried to pass Turner’s car on Whorton Springs Road to get him stopped, but Turner intentionally sideswiped Whitehead’s patrol car. According to Trooper Brinkley, Officer Whitehead, in order to stop Turner and in the interest of public safety, used his patrol car to force Turner’s vehicle off the road. Turner’s car went through a wire fence and stopped in a field off the road. Turner was taken into custody. Trooper Brinkley said Officer Whitehead did what he had to do under the circumstances. No one was injured.
33 year old Misty Lee Felton of Young Ridge Road, Smithville was charged Tuesday with a first offense of driving while intoxicated. Sheriff Ray says deputies responded to an automobile accident near Felton’s residence. Officers administered field sobriety tasks which she failed. Bond for Felton was set at $1,500 and she will appear in court on June 12th.
36 year old Don Diamond Groshon of Cookeville Highway was extradited Wednesday on a sealed indictment from the April Grand Jury. Sheriff Ray says Groshon was indicted on a charge of hindering secured creditors over $10,000.00. Groshon was stopped in Stephens County, Georgia for a traffic violation and upon a warrants check by that Department; he was arrested on the DeKalb County charge. Groshon’s bond was set at $10,000.00 and his court date is June 6th.
43 year old Joseph John Muse of Short Mountain Highway was arrested Thursday for a second offense of driving under the influence and driving on a suspended license. Sheriff Ray says deputies responded to a domestic call on Highway 70 East. While officers were enroute, the complainant advised that the individuals had left and provided a description of the vehicle. Upon a stop of the vehicle, Muse was found to be intoxicated and had a suspended driver’s license. Muse was also written a citation for violation of the implied consent law after he refused an alcohol/blood test. Bond for Muse was set at $4,000 and his court date is June 19th.
Sheriff Ray says deputies also noticed in Muses’ vehicle a lot of new craftsman tool. A
county detective was then contacted. Detectives learned that Muse and a female went to the Sears store in Warren County and wrote several large checks for 3 refrigerators, 3 air conditioners, 2 television sets, 3 tool boxes, a zero turn lawn mower, and a large amount of hand tools.
Local detectives were able to recover most of the items in DeKalb County. Warren County Detectives will be seeking other charges there.
Meanwhile, on Saturday 45 year old Brain Scott Cannon of Peeled Chestnut Road, Sparta was
arrested for a third offense of driving under the influence. Deputies responded to an automobile accident on Wright Bend Road and found Cannon to be under the influence. Cannon submitted to field sobriety tasks which he failed. Cannon was arrested and bond was set at $4,500. He will be in court June 12th