Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Actions Votes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Giles County commission approves budget and road measures, rescinds wheel-tax referendum; proposed vehicle tax fails to reach required two-thirds
Summary
At its March 16 meeting in Pulaski the Giles County Legislative Body approved multiple budget amendments and road additions, approved an OHM contract amendment, rescinded a step toward a wheel-tax referendum and debated a proposed countywide motor-vehicle privilege tax that failed to achieve the two-thirds vote required for adoption.
Pulaski, Tenn. — The Giles County Legislative Body on March 16 approved a package of budget and road actions, adopted a contract amendment for courthouse work and rescinded an earlier move toward a wheel-tax referendum, while a separate proposal to levy a countywide motor-vehicle privilege tax did not win the supermajority needed for adoption.
The commission approved OHM Contract Amendment 1A (motion by Erin Curry, seconded by Carman Brown), a contract adjustment tied to the ongoing courthouse restoration work. The roll-call vote recorded Ayes from a majority of commissioners and No votes from Terry Jones, Tracy Wilburn, David Adams and Gayle Jones. Erin Curry reminded commissioners the amendment had been included in the budget.
Commissioners also approved Amendment Resolution 2026-21 to amend the 2025–26 General Fund budget after a split vote on a separate library contribution. The library contribution was pulled for separate consideration and initially failed to pass, but the full amendment resolution later carried on roll call (final recorded No votes: David Adams, Matthew Hopkins and Gayle Jones).
The body approved Amendment Resolution 2026-22 to amend the 2025–26 Highway Fund (Fund 131). Deputy Finance Director Shana Woodard told the commission Fund 131 is the operating fund for the Highway Department.
On county roads, the commission approved three resolutions adding local road segments to the county-maintained system: Resolution 2026-23 (adding the beginning 330 feet of Dillon Lane), Resolution 2026-24 (adding the remaining 1,570 feet of Poling Drive) and Resolution 2026-25 (accepting Fiddler’s Court). Each measure passed by roll call; Matthew Hopkins was recorded as the lone No on the first two road measures. Road Superintendent Gene Barnickle said the county removed roughly four miles from the system last year.
By motion of Evan Baddour (seconded by Roger Reedy) the commission approved Resolution 2026-26 rescinding Resolution 2026-18, which had established a path toward a wheel-tax referendum. Registrar Zena Dickey explained the petition process for initiating a referendum; County Attorney Chris Williams answered timing questions. Minutes show a procedural effort to call the question initially failed to meet the two-thirds threshold, but a subsequent roll call approved the rescission.
The most contested action was Resolution 2026-27, authorizing the levy of a countywide motor-vehicle privilege tax and specifying disposition of proceeds. Commissioners debated the proposal; a motion to send the measure back to committee for further study (Terry Jones, seconded by Tracy Wilburn) failed to win a majority on roll call. The clerk’s minutes record a final roll call that did not meet the statutory two-thirds voting requirement for adoption, and no adoption was recorded.
Announcements included a reminder that the Public Records Committee will meet the following day at 9 a.m. at the Archives Building. The commission adjourned at 11:17 a.m.
