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Frame The Importance of

Commercial Truck Insurance in Kingsport, TN

  • Let's face it - truckers in America have always been the backbone of our great country. They still are in modern times. On any given day, thousands of trucks traverse our highways and local roads, delivering goods and products on time so that businesses and consumers have what they need to live life. And while commercial trucking can be an incredibly lucrative way to make a living and put food on the table, it can also be risky and expensive.
  • Whether you're the owner of a fleet, an independent trucker, or have a business that uses big rigs to transport goods, you need commercial trucking insurance to protect you and your client's investments, shield you from liability, and more.
  • That's where working with a reliable truck insurance agency comes into play. Unfortunately, for many commercial truck insurance providers, serving the needs of truckers is low on the proverbial totem pole. At Independence Insurance Agency, nothing could be further from the truth.

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percent The Commercial Truck

Insurance Agency in Kingsport, TN You Can Trust

Much like you pride yourself on running a successful trucking business, Independence Insurance Agency prides itself on its years of experience providing truck insurance for hardworking men and women across the country. And in our experience, insurance rates for truckers are just too high - so high, in fact, that they eat away at their bottom line, making it more difficult to run a business and make a profit. Fortunately, at Independence Insurance Agency, we provide truckers the freedom they need from astronomically high insurance rates so they can stay on the road and keep driving America forward.

As one of the most trusted commercial trucking insurance agencies in the U.S., we understand the challenges that you face daily as a trucker. We also know how important it is to protect your business. That's why we go above and beyond to find you the best-priced coverage available, whether you're an operator, own a small fleet, a large fleet, or something in between.

Commercial Truck Insurance Kingsport, TN

We Put Truckers First Because Others Don't

 Truck Insurance Kingsport, TN

Truckers across the country choose to work with Independence Insurance Agency because we put their needs first before anything else. As experts in transportation insurance, we proudly offer a range of quality insurance products that are both practical and affordable for them. Our industry-leading carriers provide coverage that caters to the unique challenges faced by the trucking industry, ensuring that your business is protected at all times.

At our core, we are committed to finding the best possible price for your coverage without compromising the quality of service you deserve. The truth is, we understand how essential truckers are to the United States and take pride in making their insurance experience more streamlined and affordable.

One way we do so is by simplifying the insurance process. Our transportation specialists take the time to understand your specific needs and budget to tailor a comprehensive plan that works for you. You won't ever have to worry about cookie-cutter plans or uninterested agents when you work with our commercial trucking insurance agency. We take an educational approach to ensure that the entire big rig insurance process is quick, painless, and easy to understand. If there's something you don't understand, we're happy to take the time to explain. After all, the success and safety of your business are on the line.

Looking to the future, we are committed to providing innovative new products that cater to the ever-changing needs of truck drivers. As your one-stop shop for commercial trucking insurance, we are dedicated to your success, one policy at a time.

If you're a commercial trucker looking to ensure your rig, you can rest easy knowing that Independence Insurance Agency provides:

  • Affordable Trucking Insurance Plans for Any Budget
  • Exemplary Customer Service
  • Seasoned Transportation Specialists Who Customize Plans to Your Needs
  • A+ Carriers Across the Country
  • Simple, Easy Quote and Bind Process
  • Multiple Insurance Carriers Quoted to Find You the Best Rates
  • Truck Insurance for New Ventures

Call us or send us a message today to learn more about the best 18-wheeler insurance options for your trucking business.

chart The Commercial Truck

Common Types of Big Rig Truck Insurance in Kingsport, TN

At Independence Insurance Agency, we offer several types of insurance coverage for local, intermediate, and long-haul trucking needs. Here are just a few categories of trucking insurance coverage that our agency offers.

As the foundation of your insurance policy, liability coverage is required by law in most states in the U.S. It provides coverage for damage or injuries caused to properties or other people if your 18-wheeler is responsible for the crash. Without liability coverage, it's almost impossible to drive a truck or run a trucking business without major legal consequences.

Having physical damage coverage is an essential component that shouldn't be overlooked. This insurance is responsible for covering the expenses related to repairing or replacing your truck in situations such as accidents, theft, vandalism, and other damaging events. By having this coverage, you can rest assured that your business won't be affected significantly by unexpected incidents, and you can continue running your operations smoothly even in challenging times.

For trucking companies, the goods they transport are crucial to their operations. To protect these goods from damage, loss, or theft while in transit, cargo insurance is essential. This coverage provides much-needed peace of mind for both you and your clients, allowing you to reimburse clients for any losses sustained while protecting your reputation and brand identity.

Non-Trucking Liability Insurance is designed to cover property damage or bodily injury that may occur during personal time when the driver/truck is not under dispatch. This coverage can be applied with or without a trailer and is added to a commercial policy as an endorsement.

While Independence Insurance Agency has built a reputation of excellence in serving the needs of truckers, we also offer general liability. Also known as Truckers General Liability, this coverage insures for bodily injuries or property damage that happen due to business activities that are NOT the cause of operating a truck. It covers accidents that occur in parking lots, rest stops, also while loading or unloading. General liability can also cover losses related to theft and vandalism. Most brokers and shippers will require this coverage to work with you.

Bobtail insurance is a type of coverage that is comparable to non-trucking liability, which is designed to offer protection when driving a truck without a trailer attached. This is commonly referred to as "bobtailing." With bobtail insurance, the tractor is covered at all times, even when it is not attached to a trailer, regardless of whether or not the truck is under dispatch.

Trailer interchange insurance is a must-have if you're involved in a trailer interchange agreement. This essential coverage offers protection for trailers owned by other parties that you're using under a contractual agreement. It covers damages caused by collisions, fire, theft, and vandalism, providing assurance to all parties involved.

Curious whether our commercial truck insurance agency in cityname, state offers additional coverage? The following options can be bound in your insurance policy:

  • Business Interruption Insurance
  • Reefer Breakdown Insurance
  • Occupational Accident with Contract Liability Insurance
  • Rental Reimbursement Insurance
  • Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist Insurance
  • Towing Insurance
  • Electronics Insurance
  • Much More

Three plus 3 Safe Driving Tips to

Lower the Cost of Truck Insurance in Kingsport, TN

Keeping your drivers safe on the road is crucial not only for their own well-being but also for the safety of other motorists and the financial stability of your business. The Department of Labor has identified the trucking industry as one of the most hazardous sectors in the U.S. In fact, trucking and logistics fleets are known for their high injury and fatality rates. By improving how safely your truckers drive, you can help reduce expenses related to claim payouts, accidents, and insurance premium hikes.

Whether you own a large fleet or you're the owner and operator of a single rig, keep these safe driving tips in mind to help lower your insurance costs.

Implement Preventative Maintenance Plans

Ensuring the safety of your drivers begins with the safety of their vehicles. Trucks and tractor-trailers that do not receive regular maintenance, such as oil and brake pad changes, are more likely to experience breakdowns while on the road. Telematics devices provide real-time insight into engine and odometer data, including fault codes.

This information enables your mechanics to create comprehensive preventative maintenance schedules based on mileage, history of previous breakdowns, days, and more. Additionally, they can receive immediate notifications for critical fault codes. By implementing routine maintenance and proactive repair schedules, you can ensure that your vehicles are in top condition, minimizing the likelihood of breakdowns, which can help reduce the cost of trucker insurance.

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 Trucking Insurance Kingsport, TN

Practice Defensive Driving

This approach aims to mitigate the risk of fatal crashes and injuries by proactively identifying and responding to potentially dangerous situations and making informed decisions while driving. By adopting defensive driving techniques, drivers can reduce their likelihood of accidents, thereby minimizing the need for expensive repairs, claim payouts, and increased insurance premiums.

Some of the easiest ways for you or your drivers to practice safe driving include:

  • Be Wary of Blind Spots: Operating a reefer or tractor-trailer means driving high off of the ground, which can make visibility limited, especially in blind spots. To check your blind spot, look over your shoulder and out of your windows while changing lanes.
  • Be Ready for Emergencies on the Road: It's important for drivers to be ready for unexpected situations when driving, especially during long trips. They should be equipped to handle emergencies such as poor driving conditions or big rig breakdowns.
  • Use the Three-Second Rule: Truck drivers should try to maintain a three-second gap between their vehicle and the car in front of them. This means that the truck driver should reach a certain point on the road three seconds after the car in front of them has passed that same point.
  • Always Use Right and Left Turn Indicators: It's important for drivers to always use their turn signals when changing lanes or exiting highways, even if they don't see any other cars around. This is not only required by law, but it also reduces the chances of accidents occurring on the road.
phone Call Now
 Commercial Liability Insurance For Truckers Kingsport, TN

Find Ways to Prevent Distracted Driving

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), distracted driving is the primary reason behind truck driver accidents. Any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the road or the steering wheel is considered distracted driving. Distractions can come in various forms, such as eating while driving or gazing at a billboard outside the window. However, the most frequent form of distracted driving is the use of cellphones, specifically texting while driving.

Assuming you or your driver's rigs are equipped with dual-facing cameras, try reviewing footage of an unsafe driving incident. Coach your drivers on ways to correct their unsafe behaviors or look up ways to do so yourself if you're the one operating the big rig. The bottom line is that when your drivers aren't distracted, they drive safer. And when they drive safer, the cost of 18-wheeler insurance in cityname, state can be reduced.

phone Call Now
 Commercial Truck Insurance Quote Kingsport, TN

Ensuring the safety of your drivers begins with the safety of their vehicles. Trucks and tractor-trailers that do not receive regular maintenance, such as oil and brake pad changes, are more likely to experience breakdowns while on the road. Telematics devices provide real-time insight into engine and odometer data, including fault codes.

This information enables your mechanics to create comprehensive preventative maintenance schedules based on mileage, history of previous breakdowns, days, and more. Additionally, they can receive immediate notifications for critical fault codes. By implementing routine maintenance and proactive repair schedules, you can ensure that your vehicles are in top condition, minimizing the likelihood of breakdowns, which can help reduce the cost of trucker insurance.

 Low Priced Commercial Truck Insurance Kingsport, TN phone Call Now

This approach aims to mitigate the risk of fatal crashes and injuries by proactively identifying and responding to potentially dangerous situations and making informed decisions while driving. By adopting defensive driving techniques, drivers can reduce their likelihood of accidents, thereby minimizing the need for expensive repairs, claim payouts, and increased insurance premiums.

Some of the easiest ways for you or your drivers to practice safe driving include:

  • Be Wary of Blind Spots: Operating a reefer or tractor-trailer means driving high off of the ground, which can make visibility limited, especially in blind spots. To check your blind spot, look over your shoulder and out of your windows while changing lanes.
  • Be Ready for Emergencies on the Road: It's important for drivers to be ready for unexpected situations when driving, especially during long trips. They should be equipped to handle emergencies such as poor driving conditions or big rig breakdowns.
  • Use the Three-Second Rule: Truck drivers should try to maintain a three-second gap between their vehicle and the car in front of them. This means that the truck driver should reach a certain point on the road three seconds after the car in front of them has passed that same point.
  • Always Use Right and Left Turn Indicators: It's important for drivers to always use their turn signals when changing lanes or exiting highways, even if they don't see any other cars around. This is not only required by law, but it also reduces the chances of accidents occurring on the road.
Commercial Truck Insurance Kingsport, TN phone Call Now

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), distracted driving is the primary reason behind truck driver accidents. Any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the road or the steering wheel is considered distracted driving. Distractions can come in various forms, such as eating while driving or gazing at a billboard outside the window. However, the most frequent form of distracted driving is the use of cellphones, specifically texting while driving.

Assuming you or your driver's rigs are equipped with dual-facing cameras, try reviewing footage of an unsafe driving incident. Coach your drivers on ways to correct their unsafe behaviors or look up ways to do so yourself if you're the one operating the big rig. The bottom line is that when your drivers aren't distracted, they drive safer. And when they drive safer, the cost of 18-wheeler insurance in cityname, state can be reduced.

 Truck Insurance Kingsport, TN phone Call Now

check light FAQs About

Independence Insurance Agency

If you're looking for a commercial trucking insurance agency for your business, chances are you have some questions - and we've got answers. Keep reading to learn more about some of the most commonly asked questions we hear from truckers like you.

Why go with a "jack of all trades" when you can work with specialists who focus exclusively on transportation insurance? We have excellent relationships with major trucking insurance carriers and, as such, can provide the best assistance and reasonable rates.

Typically, companies will look at claims that date back three years or less.

We proudly work with more than 20 carriers to provide our clients with the most advantageous options at competitive prices, catering to the needs of owner-operators and big fleets alike.

Permit filings are typically done by insurance companies on the next business day. Federal (FMCSA) filings are completed online and updated immediately, while some states may take up to three weeks to process.

Independence Insurance Agency: Committed to the Trucking Industry

There's no question about it - you've got to protect your staff, your rig, and your trucking business with insurance. But choosing the right insurance partner isn't always easy. Thankfully, with Independence Insurance Agency by your side, you can rest easy knowing you're covered no matter where the road takes you. If you're in need of a commercial truck insurance agency in Kingsport, TN that caters to truckers like you, pick up the phone and contact one of our transportation specialists today. That way, you can get back on the road with confidence tomorrow.

 Trucking Insurance Kingsport, TN

Latest News in Kingsport, TN

College of Dentistry, Partners Celebrate Start of Construction on Kingsport Clinic

The College of Dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center today celebrated the start of construction on a new dental training clinic in Kingsport, Tennessee.When completed, the clinic, named the Kingsport Dental Clinic of the Appalachian Highlands, will serve as a rotation site for dental students and offer a full-time Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency. Additionally, the clinic will host Dental Hygiene student rotations from East Tennessee State University.Planning for the new training site b...

The College of Dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center today celebrated the start of construction on a new dental training clinic in Kingsport, Tennessee.

When completed, the clinic, named the Kingsport Dental Clinic of the Appalachian Highlands, will serve as a rotation site for dental students and offer a full-time Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency. Additionally, the clinic will host Dental Hygiene student rotations from East Tennessee State University.

Planning for the new training site began in October 2022, when the city of Kingsport, UT Health Science Center, Ballad Health, and East Tennessee State University signed a memorandum of understanding to plan for the possibility of a partnership. The agreement represented a historic collaboration, including two public universities and a large number of private corporate sponsors, as well as leaders from across the community.

“This is probably the most exciting thing—and the most important thing—happening in Kingsport right now,” said Kingsport Mayor Pat Shull.

“This started because of a group of people in this community came together with a good idea, and it is a historic investment in this community and the region,” UT System President Randy Boyd told the audience gathered at the site for the celebration.

The Kingsport Chamber hosted today’s event. The new clinic facility is a second-floor renovation and demolition has begun. Because of that, a symbolic groundbreaking featured a tub filled with 4,000 individually wrapped toothbrushes that are among a total of 8,000 to be donated through the Kingsport Chamber to area schools.

The new training site is a significant part of the College of Dentistry’s Healthy Smiles Initiative, which seeks to increase dental class sizes and add new clinical sites across Tennessee for student clinical rotations, with a goal of improving access to dental care across the state. In these rotations, students get hands-on experience treating patients in the community who might otherwise not have access to care.

In December, the College of Dentistry hired a clinical director, John Royal, DDS, a 1985 graduate of the UT Health Science Center College of Dentistry. Prior to joining the College of Dentistry, Dr. Royal served as a clinical director of a similar clinic for East Carolina University in Spruce Pine, NC. The College of Dentistry also has rotation sites in Union City, Crossville, Knoxville, Bristol, and Chattanooga.

While the new clinic will play an important role in health of the community, James Ragain, DDS, MS, PhD, FICD, FACD, dean of the College of Dentistry, reminded attendees that this clinic represents the first step in a larger plan. “Our ultimate goal is to have a site where third- and fourth-year students can finish their degree in Kingsport. Our intention is to build a major training site here in Kingsport. This clinic is important, but this clinic is just the beginning.”

Editorial: Here's how you can help keep Kingsport beautiful

With the arrival of spring, area residents will be cleaning out garages and basements and setting up house for the year — and in some counties, disposing of what the state labels as hazardous waste.To that end, Washington County residents may dispose of such waste April 20 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Daniel Boone High School, 1440 Suncrest Drive in Gray, and Hawkins County residents April 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hawkins County Recycling Center, 8580 Hwy. 11W in Rogersville.Stay EngagedReact to this articl...

With the arrival of spring, area residents will be cleaning out garages and basements and setting up house for the year — and in some counties, disposing of what the state labels as hazardous waste.

To that end, Washington County residents may dispose of such waste April 20 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Daniel Boone High School, 1440 Suncrest Drive in Gray, and Hawkins County residents April 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hawkins County Recycling Center, 8580 Hwy. 11W in Rogersville.

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Report: ‘Forever chemicals’ in northeast TN pose longterm risk to region’s drinking water

So-called “forever chemicals” linked to disease, infertility and death have been detected in 60% of rivers and lakes tested in Northeast Tennessee, findings that “cast into question the long-term safety of drinking water supplies for the region,” a report released Monday by the Sierra Club said.PFAs – per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances – are a group that includes thousands of man-made chemicals that do not break down in the environment. Industries have relied on their oil- and water-repellent appl...

So-called “forever chemicals” linked to disease, infertility and death have been detected in 60% of rivers and lakes tested in Northeast Tennessee, findings that “cast into question the long-term safety of drinking water supplies for the region,” a report released Monday by the Sierra Club said.

PFAs – per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances – are a group that includes thousands of man-made chemicals that do not break down in the environment. Industries have relied on their oil- and water-repellent applications in the manufacture of cookware, furniture and cosmetics. In 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency concluded that virtually any exposure to the chemical is unsafe.

The Sierra Club of Tennessee sampled surface water at 20 locations around Kingsport and Johnson City last summer and fall, including water that feeds two municipal water supply systems.

Among the environmental group’s findings: exceptionally high levels of PFAs in water drawn by the First Utility District of Hawkins County, which supplies drinking water to the eastern half of the county.

The water supply is immediately downriver from the Holston Army Ammunition Depot, where the highest concentrations of PFAs measured in the study were found. Fire-fighting foam routinely used by the U.S. military and certain compounds in munitions are well-known sources of PFAs, the study noted. The prevalence of PFAs could also be a result of the depot’s practice of burning up to 1.25 million tons of munitions each year.

Other high levels of PFA’s were detected in Thomas Creek in Sullivan County. The creek serves as a drainage area for local farmlands. The suspected source of the chemical: wastewater sludge used by farmers for fertilizer.

In nearby Kingsport, which straddles Sullivan and Hawkins County, water sampling found lower levels of PFA by comparison. The findings, nevertheless, raised concern. The levels found “do not exceed EPA’s legal limit, but they are higher than EPA’s non-binding “health advisory” levels,” the report noted.

The report noted a pattern: chemicals were found at higher concentration in more urbanized stretches of water, particularly downstream from industrial and municipal wastewater treatment plants, military sites, and places where sewage sludge is spread on agricultural lands for disposal.

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The report comes amid growing concerns about PFAs in the environment. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation in 2021 launched an ongoing statewide study of PFAs. Currently there are no state regulations concerning PFAs in drinking water.

Last year, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti filed suit against 20 manufactures using PFAs in their products, including DuPoint, 3M and Chemours. The suit alleges the companies knew their products contained harmful chemicals.

The Environmental Protection Agency is currently in the process of rolling out regulations to require water utilities to remove certain PFA’s, a more complex and far costlier treatment process than utilities typically use.

The Sierra Club issued a series of recommendations in their report, including requiring TDEC to do more detailed surveys to discover PFA “hotspots,” increase testing and regulation of industries that pollute and require wastewater treatment plants to monitor PFA levels. The report also urged state officials to investigated “legacy contamination sites,” including military bases or other locations where PFAS-based foams were used for firefighting training or fire suppression.

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Kingsport releases master plan for park at Cement Hill

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – The City of Kingsport is mapping its path forward with plans for how to develop a new park at the Cement Hill property.The roughly 40-acre site was acquired by the city in 2020 through a land exchange agreement between Kingsport and Domtar. In that time, Kingsport leaders have been planning on how to best utilize the space and have used ...

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – The City of Kingsport is mapping its path forward with plans for how to develop a new park at the Cement Hill property.

The roughly 40-acre site was acquired by the city in 2020 through a land exchange agreement between Kingsport and Domtar. In that time, Kingsport leaders have been planning on how to best utilize the space and have used herds of goats to clear vegetation from areas within it.

Cement Hill is adjacent to the Scott Adams Skate Park and is located along Industry Drive, right across from the South Fork Holston River. The site borders the Brickyard Village development, which will ultimately consist of more than 450 new homes. City leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Brickyard Village in October.

On Monday, the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Alderman listened to a presentation on the status of Cement Hill and heard the parks and recreation’s plan for moving forward.

Chiefly, the city plans to apply for a state-funded $500,000 Brownfield Redevelopment Area Grant in the spring of 2024. Grants are awarded to projects that property redevelop that have been negatively impacted by possible contamination. The presentation noted two expanses of Cement Hill where Brownfield assessments are being conducted.

Kingsport will also seek additional grants and funding options for the park.

A preliminary design of the completed park details the park layout. Features include event spaces, bike trails, a pedestrian bridge from Centennial Park, walking trails, disc golf courses and reforestation areas among others.

Kingsport leaders noted in the presentation that through surveys conducted, citizens expressed a desire for more walking and biking trails, tracks for running and walking, an outdoor concert area and wildlife habitats. The park will also include spaces for historic education, lacrosse, greenways and spaces for outdoor music and movies.

While the funding process is underway, city leaders plan to continue site maintenance and use of the goat herds. The preliminary design featured plans for a “goat grazing fenced area” and a “goat operations center.”

Kingsport lists key priorities in legislative agenda for Tennessee General Assembly

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — The City of Kingsport revealed its legislative agenda for the 113th Tennessee General Assembly on Thursday.The city’s 2024 agenda included top priority items, such as the Kingsport Dental Clinic project, the Brickyard Develo...

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — The City of Kingsport revealed its legislative agenda for the 113th Tennessee General Assembly on Thursday.

The city’s 2024 agenda included top priority items, such as the Kingsport Dental Clinic project, the Brickyard Development, the Interstate 26 Corridor Study and the state industrial access road for Eastman, the city said in a release.

The city presented the following priorities to the 113th Tennessee General Assembly in Nashville in mid-January:

“The agenda is a way for Kingsport to maintain an open channel of communications with our legislators, which they want and appreciate,” Deputy City Manager Ryan McReynolds said. “It’s meant to bring them up to speed on a number of projects in the works and to let them know our funding priorities for the coming legislative session.”

Each year, Kingsport officials craft a legislative agenda that includes projects, priorities and funding requests the city wants state representatives and senators to be aware of.

City Manager Chris McCartt told News Channel 11 the document typically takes six to seven months to prepare and represents the “high-points” of the city’s agenda.

“It’s also an opportunity to talk about projects that we are working on in the city and how those projects we believe will be beneficial for not only our citizens, but in some situations like the dental clinic for the entire region,” McCartt said.

The city’s request for funding of the Kingsport Dental Clinic isn’t the only wider issue included in the legislative packet, however. The city is supporting a measure that would impact communities across the state: Comptroller Jason Mumpower’s proposal to shorten the reappraisal cycle from five to two years.

McCartt said the five-year cycle requires mid-cycle adjustments that often force cities to reduce tax rates. Last fiscal year, McCartt said the city lost $3.8 million from its general fund as part of the process.

“We’ve really spent the bulk of this fiscal year making adjustments to our budget and also realizing we have to make adjustments going into fiscal 2025 because the next reassessment won’t hit until fiscal 2026,” McCartt said.

The reappraisal proposal is scheduled for a vote in the State House. It is currently winding through Senate committees.

McCarrt said the city is also urging state lawmakers and the Tennessee Department of Transportation to work on small improvements through I-26, including wildlife fences and changes to the I-81 interchange.

“We wanted to bring that to the attention of our legislators to remind them that not every fix is a multimillion-dollar fix,” McCartt said.

News Channel 11 asked Gov. Bill Lee’s office for a comment on the budget requests included in the legislative packet.

Lee’s press secretary, Elizabeth Lane Johnson, said via email, “At this time, the City of Kingsport’s funding requests are still being considered as the FY 2025 budget process is ongoing and ultimately determined by the General Assembly.”

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