Moving Pennies is not some way to do things in secret. It's a standard budget process that any responsible government would do. The pennies moved from education stem from paying off debt. Apparently, mayor Aikens has no concept of that. The city will finance debt for as long as forty years. That sure makes for a lot of interest paid. The county tries to pay down debt as fast as possible to save interest costs. Which system makes more since? If tomorrow the county paid off all the school debt, the city rate and county rate would be exactly the same.

More times than not, as debt is paid down, those pennies are to moved allow the county to continue to provide funding to the county school system, sheriff's department, jail, etc. And yes, when those pennies are moved, the city's county tax rate goes up accordingly, one or two pennies. Yet, the city's county tax rate is still thirteen cents lower than the county proper tax rate. So city property owners tax rate is still well below the county. Aikens didn't mention that in his diatribe.

Now, from the story.

The term “move pennies” or “moving pennies” is commonly used when politicians discuss moving tax money from one fund to another. When referring to the county’s actions, it is when they change how much money is allocated to or taken away from the Loudon County Education Debt Relief Fund — right down to the pennies or slivers of pennies.

In the article, it's hard to tell who said what. But to answer, moving pennies is a budgeting act, no secrets or nothing hidden. It's right there in the adopted budget.

Neither the city nor the county have raised their property tax rate in more than three years.

This statement is partially correct. Most recently, Lenoir City officials raised their property tax rate 17% (14 Cents) in 2021. The county has not raised their property tax rate since 2010. In fact, the county lowered their property tax rate by four cents in 2014.

The last city tax rate change was in 2017, when the rate went down from 1.0615 to the current rate. The last county tax rate change was in 2021, going down from 1.8035 to the current rate. Before that, the rate went down from 1.8587 in 2017.

These were not property tax reductions. These were reappraisal years when new certified rates were issued. The amount of tax money collected remained the same.

Aikens believes city residents, specifically those who live in the 5th District as he said in the January meeting, should be “outraged” by the county’s willingness to move money around, raising their taxes.

If Aikens is so concerned about any tax increases, why does he single out the residents of the 5th district? That's because his commission candidate is running for a commission seat in the 5th district. If Aikens is so out raged about the "moving pennies" why is this the first time he's ever brought up the subject. It's all politics with him. The city residents in the 5th district are outraged, outraged by the mayor's constant tax increases and over development.

“When you stop and look at it, it’s a huge number of a tax increase to the citizens of Lenoir City by the Loudon County Commission.

That's just a lie by Aikens. Most of the tax increases in Lenoir City were brought to you by Tony Aikens. Aikens supported and his council voted for a gas tax increase, the Rain Tax, 17% property tax increase, garbage tax increase and now a second sales tax increase. Aikens and council have never met a tax increase they wouldn't pass.

 “When I’m dealing with somebody on a $120,000 house that’s on low-income or elderly tax relief programs, six bucks makes a difference. Nine dollars makes a difference,” Campbell said. “We hear it all the time.

I do agree with Mr. Campbell on this one. Each time Aikens and his council add another tax or raises taxes on city residents, it puts a great burden, not just on the low income and elderly, but every city property owner. Fortunately, Loudon County has one of the best funded, low income and elderly property tax relief programs in the state, matching the state contribution by 100%. I don't think Lenoir City offers any assistance to anyone.

I think you can get the gist of what's up here, Aikens playing politics with the truth. The mayor can word game, duck and dive all he wants but he can't hide from his disastrous record as a councilman now mayor. Pointing at others trying to hide his actions will not work.

He's already out pushing his new sales tax increase and you can bet, as long as he's in office, taxes for Lenoir City residents will go up and his quest to destroy the city will continue.

Nothing in Lenoir City will ever change until something changes in Lenoir City.

The November election is coming.