County Property Tax Collections on Pace with Last Year

January 29, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The Trustee’s Office will be a busy place for the next month as taxpayers rush to beat the February 29 deadline to pay their 2019 county property taxes.

Because 2020 is leap year, taxpayers have an extra day to pay without penalty. The Trustee’s office is open Monday-Friday and will be open on Saturday, February 29 from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

As of Monday, Trustee Sean Driver said collections were at 49% of almost $10.7 million in DeKalb County property taxes to be collected by February 29, 2020 which includes property, residential, commercial, personal, and public utility taxes. Collections to date are up by one percent compared to the same day (January 27) last year.

For budgeting purposes, the county expects tax collections each year to be at least 94.75% with a 5.25% delinquency.

Property taxes are now due and payable through February 29, 2020 before any interest becomes due on March 1, 2020.

The Trustee’s office offers up to 6 different options to pay your property taxes:

*Come in person to the office to pay

*Mail in your payment

* Pay online @ www.tennesseetrustee.org, then select DeKalb and follow the instructions to the next screens. The Vendor BIS (Business Information Systems) accepts Discover, MasterCard, or American Express-The Vendor convenience fee of 2.75% on the total tax bill will apply and fees are subject to change for using credit/debit cards. Also, a $2.75 fee will be assessed on an e-check payment of any amount.

* A QR (Quick Response Code) is also your means of accessing the website www.tennesseetrustee.org with your smart phone.

* Dropbox located on the outside of the building at the County Complex (County Offices Section) for your convenience after hours or on weekends. “If on the last day you can’t make it to the post office to postmark your payment, you can use the dropbox and when we gather the mail on Monday, March 2 in the office, if your payment is in there no interest will be applied to your 2019 tax,” said Driver.

*Partial Payments are accepted and you the taxpayer sets the amount to pay until full payment is made.

The Trustee’s office is accepting applications for the Property Tax Relief Program through April 6, 2020. If you would like to inquire more about a possible tax relief for property taxes, come by the Trustee’s office in the County Complex at 732 S Congress Boulevard-Room 103, Smithville or call 615-597-5176.

Eligibility for Property Tax Relief:

*The State of Tennessee offers qualified property owners tax relief on property taxes. This program was implemented in 1973 and has a few changes every year. At this time, DeKalb County has 406 applicants on the program for 2019. As a property owner for 2019, you can qualify for Tax Relief if: ( A.) Your DeKalb County home is your primary residence, ( B.) You are 65 years old (or older) on or before December 31, 2019, (C.) Under 65 years of age with a total and permanent disability per the SSA or another qualifying agency, and (D.) The 2018 Annual Income of all living owners on the deed and their spouses DID NOT exceed $29,860.00. If the State of Tennessee qualifies you for Tax Relief, then you can receive a rebate up to $140.00 for 2019. You must pay your 2019 tax bill IN FULL to start the application.

* Also, the State of Tennessee offers TAX RELIEF to Disabled Veterans and the surviving spouses of a disabled veteran. You must provide proof from the Veteran’s Administration that you have a total and permanent disability rating that was service connected. You and your spouse will NOT have to report any income to apply as a disabled veteran or the widow or widower of a disabled veteran. If the State of Tennessee qualifies you as a disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran, then you can receive a rebate up to $863.00.

If you would like to inquire more about a possible tax relief, come by the County Complex in the Trustee’s office at 732 S Congress Blvd-Room 103, Smithville, TN 37166 or call us at 615-597-5176,” Trustee Driver concluded.

January 28, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps has announced the 2019-2020 Teachers of the Year at the building level of the five schools in the county.

This year’s honorees are second grade teacher Tiffany Cowart at Smithville Elementary School; fourth grade teacher Debra Poteete at Northside Elementary School; Tonya Ellis, a kindergarten teacher at DeKalb West School; Teresa Jones, a seventh grade math and science teacher at DeKalb Middle School; and Rebecca Miller, a Family and Consumer Science teacher at DeKalb County High School.

“Our district’s Teacher of the Year program recognizes and honors outstanding teachers in DeKalb County. We applaud teachers who care about our children, who devote their professional lives to enriching the lives of DeKalb students, and who demonstrate exceptional gains in student achievement. We are not just exceptionally proud of our Teachers of the Year, but we are also grateful for all of our educators in DeKalb County,” said Director Cripps.

According to Michelle Burklow, Supervisor of Instruction, “Competition for the district-wide John Isabell Teacher of the Year award continues through February, and will be announced at DeKalb County’s Teacher of the Year Banquet in the spring. Additionally, three DeKalb County teachers will be chosen by a committee to compete at the regional level in March, and if selected they will represent DeKalb County at the state level competition.”

Teachers of the Year are selected competitively through five cycles: Building, System, Field Service Core Center Region, Grand Division and State; and from three categories (levels of teaching); Grades Pre K-4, 5-8, 9-12.

Teachers selected at each cycle receive local recognition and awards underwritten by local sources. State recognition/awards include a banquet honoring the nine State Teacher of the Year finalists and certificates of appreciation from the governor. In addition, the State Finalists and the State Teacher of the Year receive cash awards.

Dr. Kathy Bryant, Supervisor of Instruction, concludes, “The Tennessee Teacher of the Year Program is designed to promote effective teaching practices by recognizing and rewarding outstanding teachers while encouraging others to join the teaching profession.”

January 28, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Schools will be closed Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Monday after school officials say there is widespread sickness and concern over spread of the illness which includes the flu, strep throat, and stomach viruses.

“Absenteeism has recently grown each day throughout the school system and reached 12% on Tuesday and its not only students but several teachers have been out sick,” said Joey Reeder, Attendance Supervisor for the DeKalb School System.

Percentages of attendance at each school in the county Tuesday were as follows: DCHS 88.59%, DeKalb Middle School 86.85%, Northside Elementary School 91.10%, Smithville Elementary School 90.92%, DeKalb West School 84.34%, and District-wide 88.1%.

“Before making the decision to close schools we talked to various health care professionals to get their opinions and they said the spread of the illness had not yet peaked and probably would take at least up to five days for it to run its course,” Reeder added.

The school calendar includes thirteen days that can be used for inclement weather or sickness without any makeup days. After Monday, eight days will be left to use this school year.