After a three-hour meeting, Wilson County commissioners voted to approve pay raises for county employees, which in turn raised property taxes.
The vote approved raises for the sheriffs department, Wilson County Emergency Management, teachers and other county employees. commissioners also approved a new middle school in the Mt. Juliet area.
The topic was highly debated. It was standing room only at the courthouse Monday night.
People arrived hours before the meeting to ensure they would be able to express their opinion on the issues.
A public hearing before the meeting lasted one hour. Supporters argued the pay raises were needed to retain good employees, while others said the property tax increase would take a toll on many in the county on fixed incomes.
Commissioners and community members had plenty of debate. With 2 separate recesses called for the meeting and multiple attempts to delay a vote on the issue, in the end, they went through each department one by one.
The total property tax increase will be just over 35 cents not 44 as originally proposed.
