B

Billy Samsel says his decision to run for the District 7 seat on the Hamblen County Commission comes down to one issue he believes affects nearly every conversation about local government: how taxpayer money is spent.

Samsel, who is married and has no grandchildren, owns a small excavating business and previously worked as a production supervisor at Inteplast. With more than two decades of supervisory experience and a bachelor’s degree in accounting, he says his professional background has shaped the way he looks at county finances.

“I see a lack of fiscal responsibility,” Samsel said.

According to Samsel, the most recent property tax increase is one of the clearest examples of the problem he believes needs to be addressed. While he acknowledges that counties sometimes need additional revenue, he said large increases introduced all at once can place an unnecessary burden on residents.

“When property taxes go up so much all at once, there’s a problem,” he said.

Samsel said the impact of those increases is especially difficult for elderly residents and for young families who are trying to purchase their first home.

“Raising property taxes keeps young people from buying houses,” he said. “It also puts a lot of stress on the elderly.”

As a small business owner, Samsel said he approaches government spending the same way he approaches his own company’s finances.

“My business is debt free,” he said. “I understand budgets.”

That perspective has led him to question several recent county spending decisions. One example he pointed to is the purchase of additional garbage trucks.

“A lot of money has been spent on unnecessary garbage trucks,” he said.

Samsel also raised concerns about a proposed parking lot purchase intended to expand parking near county facilities. While he said creating a reserve or rainy day fund can make sense, he believes those types of projects should not move forward if the county is already facing a deficit.

“The county has about a $5.5 million deficit,” Samsel said. “Buying or annexing a parking lot might make sense if we had a surplus. It doesn’t make sense when we’re already in the red.”

Another issue he frequently mentions is the cost of the county’s new jail facility. Samsel said the project’s price tag has raised concerns among many residents he has spoken with.

“That jail cost too much,” he said.

The facility’s estimated cost of roughly $106 million, he said, also brings additional long-term expenses. According to Samsel, the jail requires around 128 employees to operate, which creates ongoing staffing costs for the county budget.

“That’s a recurrent charge every year,” he said.

Road conditions are another issue Samsel hears about often from residents in District 7. While the county’s wheel tax has been adjusted in recent years to help fund road work, he believes more attention still needs to be given to long neglected roads.

“Some roads haven’t been paved in fifteen or twenty years,” Samsel said.

He listed Old Kentucky Road, Stubble Road, and Brights Pike among the roads he believes need significant attention.

“We’ve let some of these roads go too long,” he said.

Despite his criticisms of certain spending decisions, Samsel said he believes Hamblen County has several advantages that position it well for future growth.

“We’re one of the lowest economic hubs for manufacturing in the region,” he said.

The area’s location and workforce make it attractive for new businesses, he added, while continued population growth is bringing new residents into the community.

“We have people moving here from outside the county,” Samsel said.

Because Morristown functions as a regional hub for services, Samsel believes the county should be able to maintain one of the lowest tax rates in the region by capturing revenue generated from visitors and economic activity.

“We should have one of the lowest tax rates because of the revenue streams coming from people visiting our services,” he said.

Samsel also expressed confidence in the county’s utilities and engineering departments, noting that infrastructure in those areas appears to be in good condition.

“Our engineers know what they’re doing,” he said.

Looking toward the future, Samsel said workforce development should also become a higher priority. He believes local schools should expand opportunities for students interested in skilled trades.

“We need blue collar jobs,” he said. “We also need more trades in school.”

Improving classroom facilities is another issue he raised during the campaign. At Meadowview School, he said the cost of new classroom construction raised questions for him.

“Those classrooms needed to be fixed,” Samsel said. “But did it have to take thirteen and a half million dollars?”

Transparency in local government is another area where Samsel believes improvements could be made. While public records are available upon request, he said residents often have to work to obtain information about decisions that have already been made.

“You can request records once deals are done and after the fact,” he said. “But people can’t always get that information easily unless they go looking for it.”

To improve communication between officials and residents, Samsel suggested that commissioners hold regular public forums.

“Once a quarter we should have a town hall and question and answer session,” he said.

Encouraging civic participation is also important to him.

“A healthy county has a large voter turnout,” Samsel said.

Ultimately, Samsel believes the commission should place greater emphasis on accountability and long-term planning.

“The American dream feels further away from accountability right now,” he said.

As he continues his campaign, Samsel says his message to voters remains centered on responsible budgeting and protecting the financial stability of residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

“We need protections for seniors,” he said. “They can’t handle these kind of increases.”