Bradley County officials are moving forward with a new policy regarding fire tax payments related to property annexation. During a recent meeting of the City/County Fire Tax Committee, members discussed a proposal that outlines how the city will compensate the county for lost fire tax revenue when properties are annexed.

The agreement specifies that when a parcel of land is annexed—such as the one requested at Exit 33—the county assessor will provide the city with the current tax value of that property. The city will then make an immediate payment to the county for the loss of tax revenue for the current year of annexation. If the annexation occurs at the beginning of the year, the city will pay the full tax amount for that year. However, if the annexation happens later in the year, the payment will be prorated.

For the following two years after the annexation, the city will pay 100% of the lost tax amount based on the original value assessed at the time of annexation. This policy is set to remain in effect for the duration of the city-county annexation agreement, which is expected to last 20 years.

Committee members emphasized that the calculations for these payments will be based on the original tax value at the time of annexation, acknowledging that property values may increase as development occurs. This approach aims to ensure that the county is compensated fairly for the loss of tax revenue while allowing the city to manage its annexation process effectively.

As discussions continue, the committee is focused on finalizing the details of this agreement to support both city growth and county revenue stability. The implications of this policy will be closely monitored as new properties are annexed in the coming years.