By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–A citizens’ petition seeking a vote on the new Henry County wheel tax has been filed with the Henry County Elections Commission.
Spearheaded by County Commissioner Ralph Wiles, the petition has 843 signatures. The number of signatures needed for the petition is 806, according to Elections Administration DeLaina Green, who said that is based on 10 percent of the number who voted in Henry County in the last gubernatorial election.
Elections Administration staff are currently in the process of certifying the signatures, she said.
As voted by the Henry County Commission in September, the additional tax would be effective July 1, 2026. The county commission approved the additional tax of $30 which would increase the total wheel tax to $45.50 per vehicle. The revenue from the tax is designated for specific county construction projects, such as the planned new county administration building and renovations to existing county buildings.
Green said the Election Board will meet October 27 to review and certify signatures. A special election would be set. A meeting will be has been set for November 14 to qualify the petition and call for the election.
Whereas Henry County has had referendum votes before, this will be the first one to call for a special election. Green said. “We’ve always had referendums that coincide with our general elections or other elections. This will be a first time for us to have a special called election on a referendum vote.”