Blount County Commission adopts two‑year property reappraisal cycle after contested debate

Blount County commissioners voted 17–3 with one abstention on Feb. 19, 2026, to adopt Resolution 262012, authorizing a continuous two‑year property reappraisal cycle. The motion, introduced by Commissioner French and seconded by Commissioner Reagan, follows weeks of public concern and more than an hour of debate at the commission meeting.

The measure's chief proponent, Property Assessor Todd Orr, told the commission he brought the change to protect veterans and elderly beneficiaries of state tax‑relief programs from reductions tied to a state‑run ‘‘ratio.’’ ‘‘Reappraisals are revenue neutral,’’ Orr said, adding that the county's office values properties and the certified tax rate is adjusted to cover the same budgeted revenue. Orr argued more frequent reappraisals smooth market swings and prevent the large, single‑cycle increases that alarmed residents in 2023: ‘‘If we do more frequent, we won't have those big jumps.’’ (Todd Orr)

Opposition came from both the public and several commissioners. During the…