CLEVELAND, Tenn. - The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will be paying less in the next budget year for the space it rents from Bradley County.
The rent reduction reflects the sluggish housing market, TDEC'S Ernie Taubert said.
Bradley County rents about 400 square feet of office space in the courthouse annex to TDEC.
Taubert said the space is used by department inspectors who issue state permits, mostly for septic tanks.
The department pays 8 percent of the local revenue produced by its inspectors as monthly rent. From July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2009, that came to $900 a month. Since July 1, 2009, the rate has been $600 a month. That rate will continue through June 30, 2011.
Taubert told the Bradley County Finance Committee Wednesday that the state rate for July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012, will be $525 a month.
"Some counties will be receiving much more of a reduction than this," Taubert said.
Finance Committee Chairwoman Connie Wilson said no action is required by the county.