Non-Profit organizations are set to collect $1.6 Million from Sevier County this fiscal year. This number is up from the $1.2 Million the county authorized last year. At the most recent County Commission meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to approve this year's increase.

At the same meeting, commissioners voted to increase property taxes that would add over $2.3 Million to the county coffers. Some area land owners feel as if they are bearing the load for the increased funding for non-profit groups.

Jack Doan, a longtime resident of Seymour, noted that if he wanted to contribute to a charity he would like to choose it. He went on to say, "…why was it necessary to raise our taxes to fund this? I heard it was for the schools, but from the sound of it it was for someone's pet project(s)."

Some non-first responder organizations getting the larger sums include: Keep Sevier Beautiful $21,000, Sevier County Fair Grounds $65,000, Boys and Girls Club $84,000, Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center $20,000, Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministries $17,725, Sevier County Economic Development Council $120,000 and Partners in Progress $40,000.

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