On September 22^nd, 20 local veterans who served during the Korean and Vietnam era will depart Crossroads Global Methodist Church (200 Bays Cove Trail, Kingsport) to participate in an Honor Flight trip. The September trip will be Mission #5 for Honor Flight of the Appalachian Highlands, and we look forward to honoring 20 local heroes with a visit to Washington, D.C. where they will visit the memorials erected by a grateful, thankful nation. Honor Flight trips are at no cost to the veteran.

“An Honor Flight trip is more than a trip. It is an opportunity for veterans to receive the honor they deserve for their military service, sacrifice and valor. This weekend is about honoring them and showing them a grateful nation appreciates and honors their service to our country,” said HFAH president, Michelle Shelton-Stewart. “In addition to being honored, this trip gives the veterans an opportunity to build friendships, have comradery with other veterans and know their community is proud of their service. Many veterans say an Honor Flight trip is a highlight of their life and they are so grateful for the opportunity and the support of their community.”

The veterans travel by motorcoach from East Tennessee to Washington D.C. and stop at the D-Day Museum in Bedford, Virginia. Once in Washington D.C., they are welcomed by local American Legion and VFW posts and Honor Flight volunteers who are proud to serve them. On Saturday, the veterans visit Arlington National Cemetery for the Changing of the Guard service then it’s on to the memorials – Iwo Jima, Air Force, Navy, World War II, Korean, and Vietnam Wall. As the group travels home on Sunday, they will stop at VMI for lunch with the cadets and then on to the TN/VA Welcome Center where local motorcycle groups and a police escort will greet the bus and escort them back to the church for a welcome home ceremony.

The public is invited to send off Honor Flight of the Appalachian Highlands/Hardee’s Mission 3 Veterans on Friday, September 22^nd at 8 am at Crossroads Global Methodist Church and will travel from the church to Interstate 81, leaving the church at 8:30 a.m. Anyone is welcome to display signs of thanks as the trip begins. The public is encouraged to attend the Welcome Home on Sunday, September 24^th at 5 p.m. at Crossroads Global Methodist Church. The route Sunday, September 24^th will be Interstate 81 to 26 to 11W; individuals are encouraged to display signs along Highway 11W to the church and welcome these heroes home.

“Many of these service members did not receive a welcome home and this is our opportunity to do so. We encourage people to attend; dress in red, white, and blue, wave flags, hold signs saying thank you – basically anything to show respect and appreciation to these heroes who have defended our freedom,” said Heather Osburn, HFAH Board Member.

Honor Flight of the Appalachian Highlands considers it a privilege to honor those who served with a trip of a lifetime, with honor.

For more information visit, www.honorflightah.org or our social media accounts which will be updated throughout the trip for family members to follow.

City of Kingsport property taxes have been billed and to avoid penalties, property owners must pay those taxes on or before November 30, 2023.

A 2% fee will be added to unpaid property taxes on December 1, 2023, a 4% fee will be added on January 1, 2024, and a 1% fee will be added on the 1^st of every subsequent month until the property taxes are paid in full.

Note – penalties assessed for delinquent tax payments cannot be waived by any city official.

Kingsport residents who live in Hawkins County should begin receiving tax notices September 15-20. Kingsport residents who live in Sullivan County should receive tax notices the following week.

Property taxes can be paid online (www.kingsporttn.gov) by mail or in person at the Customer Service Center on the first floor of city hall (415 Broad Street). The drive-thru at city hall offers two options of paying property taxes. The electronic kiosk in Lane 1 accepts cash, check or credit/debit card payments. Checks may be put in an envelope and placed in the drop box in Lane 2.

The City of Kingsport accepts VISA, MasterCard, and Discover credit/debit cards at the Customer Service Center, online and at the drive-thru kiosk. A 2.75% card processing fee will be assessed for all property taxes paid by credit/debit cards. There are no additional fees at the kiosk if paying by cash or check.

You can also pay your property taxes online by using an eCheck option with no additional fees. Visit www.kingsporttn.gov and select online tax payments. Then after selecting your account or address, select the payment type “eCheck” and enter the requested bank information.

Note – property tax payments cannot be paid over the phone.

Kingsport’s property tax rate is the same as last year – $1.9983. The City of Kingsport Customer Service Center can be reached at 423-343-9860.

How much are my property taxes?

If your property tax bill has not arrived yet and you want to find out how much you owe, you can do so by following these easy steps.

• Visit www.kingsporttn.gov.
• Click PAY ONLINE.
• Choose ONLINE TAX PAYMENTS.
• Select Account Search from the left side.
• Using the drop-down menu, select Search by Street Address. Enter your street name and select county, then click the SEARCH button.
• Click NEXT PAGE until you locate your address. Click on your address to see your tax bill.
• If you click PAY BILL, you will be directed to pay by credit/debit card or by eCheck.
• If you prefer not to pay online, you can print the page and mail it in with your check to the following address: Kingsport Customer Service Center, 415 Broad Street, Kingsport, TN 37660.

What if I did not receive a tax bill?

Note – please allow time for the tax bill to reach you by mail. If you have not received your tax bill by October 11, action may be needed.

FIRST – Contact the Customer Service Center at 423-229-9418. Please be aware, failing to receive a tax notice or disputing a property’s assessed value are not valid reasons for not paying on time. Penalties will still be assessed.

SECOND – if you need to update your mailing address or contact information for your property, you must contact the Property Tax Assessors Office in the county where your property is located.

Sullivan County Property Tax Assessor

3411 Highway 126

Blountville, TN  37617

423-323-6455

Hawkins County Property Tax Assessor

110 East Main Street

Rogersville, TN  37857

423-272-8505

Is tax relief available?

You may qualify for assistance from the State of Tennessee if you own your own home, use it as your primary residence and meet the following criteria:

1. You must be 65 years old or disabled on or before Dec. 31, 2023. The maximum 2022 income of the applicant, spouse, co-owner and remaining residents is $33,460. The maximum market value on which tax relief is calculate is $30,900.

2. You are a 100% service connected disabled veteran or surviving spouse of a 100% service connected disabled veteran (regardless of total annual income). The maximum market value on which tax relief is calculated is $175,000.

Please visit the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury site for a complete list of requirements at http://www.tncot.cc/taxrelief or to speak to a state employee, call 615-747-8871.