County Mayor Joe Carr's "State of the County" Address 7PM Thursday

Rutherford County, TN - Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr will deliver his inaugural State of the County address LIVE on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 7 pm on RCTV.

Having completed the first full year as mayor, Carr will discuss the accomplishments and challenges that coincide with that milestone. The address will be on the county TV channel known as RCTV, as well as Rutherford County’s Facebook page and their YouTube channel (RCTV).

Mayor Carr told WGNS, "My goal is to inform our community on what we have been doing in the last year. The people of Rutherford County deserve the best run government. We are all working hard to provide that."

Here are the Accomplishments about which Mayor Carr is most proud:

1) Balanced Budget for 2023/2024 with $25 million in savings and the removal of a record $64 million budget deficit.

2) Funding approved for a $20 million Transfer Station that will make Rutherford County solid waste independent for the first time in over 30 years.

3) Readyville/Eagleville EF-2 Tornado Relief accomplished in 10 days.

These are the Challenges:

1) A change in state law allowing for parity funding commensurate with other counties and cities in how Rutherford County can pay for the expansion of services related to infrastructure as a result of growth.

2) Rutherford County Schools are some of the best in the state and rank in the top 100 in student population in the nation. Accounting for over 75% of the budget our challenge will always be to properly fund and equip our children with the best and most economical education in Tennessee.

3) As we continue to grow and attract people from all over the country maintaining a balanced budget and a AAA Bond Rating while at the same time providing the required services to the fastest growing county in the state.

In a broadcast, the mayor explained... Data shows a growth of around 10,000 new residents each year here in Rutherford County.

Mayor Carr attempted to get the General Assembly to allow counties to have the same ability as cities and charge developers impact fees to cover the costs of providing services to an exploding population. That was not approved, but he is going back to the state legislature when they reconvene in January.

As a result, there was a property tax increase to cover the expenses of expanded police, fire, education, solid waste and services needed by the public.

Carr noted that the Tennessee Comptroller estimates this county's population to be 275-thousand this year (2023), in 2024 it should reach 385-thousand, 395-thousand the year after, and by 2025 estimates are that Rutherford County will be over 400-thousand residents.

He continued, "My goal is to inform our community on what we have been doing in the last year. The people of Rutherford County deserve the best run government. We are all working hard to provide that."

This information will be covered in the State of the County address at 7:00 o'clock this Thursday night (9/21/2023). Carr will deliver the message from his office in the Historic Rutherford County Courthouse.