Cocke County Partnership Helps Distribute Mountain Strong Funds

The Cocke County Partnership has been receiving charitable donations for flood relief through their Mountain Strong Fund. The Partnership board has had a subcommittee of volunteers working over the past few months to help distribute these donated funds. Phase 1 distributed $257,000 to local businesses who had been directly affected by flood waters; Phase 2 helped local individuals who were directly impacted by the flood cross referenced with damage assessments taken by the property assessors office. In phase 2, $647,500 was distributed.

The Cocke County Partnership now says that the next step for Mountain Strong is to help those affected by the flood with property taxes. Those taxes are due for both county and city property taxes by February 28. The committee is now looking at property tax relief for flood victims. Those individuals who were affected by the flood, that are deemed ” significant” loss or higher by the property assessor’s damage assessments, will be eligible for property tax relief. the committee had devised a plan that will see a $750 per parcel or max payout of $1500 if their are city/county taxes. There will be a $1500 cap for commercial property (county) taxes. Residents are urged to pay property taxes on time, in person at the trustee’s office for county taxes and city hall for city taxes. If you were affected by flood waters and you do not think you will be able to make your tax payment, contact the Partnership at (423) 720-9676. Payments have to be made by February 28th to avoid penalties. The Cocke County Partnership says there will be a later date set that will enable citizens affected by the flood to bring their paid tax receipts and be reimbursed for their 2024 property taxes at those previously mentioned caps. The Partnership hopes to announce that date in early March.