Voters approve Henry County sales tax increase
HENRY COUNTY, Tenn. — Residents voted Tuesday in overwhelming support of a proposed local sales tax increase. The measure was voted in with 75 percent in favor and 25 percent against. The increase will take effect July 1. The approved increase from 2.25 percent to 2.75 percent is intended to increase local revenues by $1.8 million annually. By law, half the sales tax must go to education. Those funds will be split between the Henry County School System and the Paris Special School District. The split is based on average daily attendance, and an estimated 65 percent will go to Henry County schools and 35 percent to Paris Special Schools. According to the school board, they have had to dip into their “rainy day” fund for the last three years when going through the budget. The sales tax increase is intended to prevent them from having to use those funds. They also say the funds will help pay for unfunded mandates such as technology upgrades.
