State Senator John Stevens delivered some good news Friday morning during Capitol Talk at the Civic Center. This is a time each year when the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce sponsors sessions where Carroll County’s three representatives deliver news on what is happening in the state legislature.
Stevens talked about bills that are being considered this year and also took questions from the audience.
At the close of the session he said he was surprised that no one had mentioned or asked a question about Carroll County’s 1,000 Acre Recreational Lake.
Stevens, who represents the 24th Senatorial District of which Carroll County is a part, said that Gov. Bill Lee had agreed to place the $11 million payoff of the lake in the 2022-2023 state budget.
TWRA is to take over the management of the lake.
Of course, Lee’s budget is a proposed one right now and hasn’t been formally passed. However, since Stevens is the first vice chair of the Ways, Means and Finance Committee, I would expect it to remain in tact.
The lake which opened in March 2013 has been supported with state funds, the local wheel tax and the future growth revenue tax. The town of Huntingdon property owners could have even been involved in the payoff as they were written in the payoff through possible added property tax.
The added wheel tax of $10 has been a sore spot with some citizens, especially in north Carroll County.
The lake is beginning to bring in big tax bucks in the way of property taxes as more and more homes are being built there.
The idea for this lake was the dream and passion of Huntingdon Mayor Dale Kelley that came to pass after a lot of starts and stops that have taken place over the years.The Carroll County Watershed Authority was created in 1984 and became a reality in March 2013 with the lake’s opening.
It has become a favorite place for fishermen all over West Tennessee, a place to boat and swim, a gathering place for picnics as well as making it a sought after place to reside.
Of course, funds for such an endeavor is always a situation and how to get it completely paid off. In April of last year, county commissioners put a cap on the payment on the indebtedness that was paid by the Future Growth Revenue Tax in the lake area. A cap of $50,000 was placed on the tax that was to end by 2031.
Now it looks probable that the lake will be paid off through the funding of $11 million in in this year’s state budget.
And that will be a good thing.
