Lewis County ranked first in state for Internet Sales Tax Revenue

Lewis County’s Internet Sales Tax revenue increased by nearly 200 percent in October, compared to October of last year.

Mayor Jonah Keltner happily announced at Monday’s County Commission meeting that Lewis Count was number one in the state for Internet sales tax revenue increase.

In October of last year, Lewis County’s Internet sales tax generated $43,543.70 for the county’s general fund. This year the tax generated $128,716.96 for the month of October. That is an increase of $85,173.26, or 196 percent!

Lewis County ranked fifth in the state for most increased revenue at $634,285.64, or 82 percent, for the year, from October 2019 to October 2020.

The increase came after the 2018 Supreme Court Ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., which ruled that states could collect internet sales tax from online retailers even if they did not have a physical store-front in the state.

It works like this; you shop online, the retailer charges you sales tax, that money gets redirected to the state of Tennessee, and it is then distributed to the city or county you live in. Your address determines whether it goes to the city or the county government. If you live within city limits, the city gets revenue when you click to confirm your order; the same goes for those who live in the county.

Whatever money the Lewis County government gets is split 50 percent with the Lewis County School System, which helps with a large portion of their budget, said Lewis County Chief Operating Officer Johnny Clayton.

Other Items of Business

Election Commission Budget Amendment

According to Administrator of Elections Rusty Isbell, the August and November elections caused overspending due to “required additional ballots, notices, and assistance.”

The Commission approved the movement of $2,510.98 from the Covid Election and Election Commission accounts to fund $1,802.44 for Election Workers, $348.50 for Legal Notices, $25.94 for Postal Charges, $316.10 for Printing, Stationary and Forms, and $18 for Rentals.

No new money was used.

Approving Lewis County Government Employee Health Insurance Plans for 2021

The Commission approved a new health plan for the 2021 calendar year in a unanimous vote.

Five Points, the current Agents of Record for Lewis County, shopped around with different insurance companies and found that Blue Cross Blue Shield was once again the best available provider.

The Resolution reads that the Lewis County government will pay 72 percent of an employee only plan and the other 28 percent will be paid by the employee. Under this plan type, Lewis County government employees can choose from monthly payments of $458 or $507.

If the employee wishes to choose a plan that includes their children or spouse, or both, the Lewis County Government will pay 50 percent, leaving the remaining 50 percent for the employee to pay. The plan options for employee plus children is either $708 or $788 per month. The plan options for employee plus spouse is either $982 or $1092 per month. The plan options for employee plus spouse and children is either $1,234 or $1,373 per month.

The plans are a 5.4 percent monthly increase over the 2020 rates.

Formal Recognition of the Public Road Leading from Hwy 48 to the Lewis County Transfer Station and Adding it to the County Maintained Road List

The Lewis County Government brought a Resolution before the Commission to officially recognize the road used to access the landfill and transfer station off of Waynesboro Highway, and add it to the County Maintained list.

After finding that the first 400 feet of the road is legally being maintained by the City, the Resolution was tabled for next month’s meeting in a unanimous vote, motioned by Commissioners Allison Tanner and Aren Ragsdale.