Tag: news
-
Appalachian Poverty: Bad Data, Good Intentions
Recently, we published an article titled “Safer by Design, Not by Statistics” that shows why Tennessee’s crime rate isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison with other places—and how it’s often misused to suggest we’re less safe than we really are. You can read it at KingsportSpirit.com. Another misleading statistic is the poverty rate. Appalachia is “poorer” than…
-
The Gentle Giant Behind Kingsport’s Transformation
Terry Cunningham was recently honored for his lifetime of partnership as Executive Director of the Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority. I was asked to share my thoughts. Terry Cunningham is one of the best human beings I know. He’s a gentle giant who has worked mostly in the background to effect positive outcomes for our…
-
Safer by Design, Not by Statistics
First in a Series When you search for crime rates in Tennessee, the numbers can seem surprising. Cities like Kingsport often appear “less safe” on paper than they feel in real life. But here’s the truth: Tennessee has been holding itself to a higher standard of honesty for decades, which makes the numbers look inflated…
-
Kingsport, Johnson City named Best Places to Live 2025-2026
Kingsport and Johnson City are two of six Tennessee cities named to U.S. News’ Top 250 “Best Places to Live” list for 2025-2026. Tennessee cities making the Top 250 are (in order): Hendersonville, Franklin, Kingsport, Murfreesboro, Johnson City, and Nashville. Notable Tennessee cities and their suburbs not on the Top 250 list are Knoxville (Maryville,…
-
Rate vs. Reality: The Real Math of Property Taxes
Explaining how property tax works is difficult at best. Today, in two separate publications from Tennessee and Virginia, I saw articles detailing rate changes. One was in Radford, Virginia, the other in Kingsport/Sullivan County, Tennessee. The articles state that Radford will increase it’s tax rate by almost 20% to $0.92, while Sullivan County’s preliminary certified…
-
Kingsport’s Wage Gains in Context: When Paychecks Stretch Further
In assessing local prosperity, it’s tempting to focus on headline wage figures: “Knoxville pays $31 per hour,” or “Johnson City surged to $30.” But for Kingsport—a city long celebrated for its measured growth and community spirit—the real story lies in how those paychecks go further against local costs. By blending respectable nominal wage gains with…
-
At The End of The Day, People Vote with Their Feet
I’ve come to realize that many states are trying to replicate what we have in Tennessee—no income tax, no personal property tax, and no inheritance or estate tax. At last count 15 states are trying, but it’s easier said than done because they’ve become accustomed to that revenue stream and rarely want to cut costs.…
-
Unlocking Economic Growth: New Housing’s Impact on Sales Tax Revenue
I was recently asked about the fiscal impact of a typical housing development on Kingsport’s sales tax revenue. Let’s consider a recent development with 77 single-family homes and 16 condos, totaling 93 units. Assuming a median price of $350,000 per home, a buyer would need an income of approximately $80,628 to afford this with a…
-
GDP Reflects the Economic Strength of Tri-Cities
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a key measure of a local economy’s health, representing the total value of goods and services produced within a specific area. It provides insight into economic growth, business activity, and overall financial well-being. While the Census tracks population and demographics, GDP serves as a measure of economic output and business…
-
Do We Still Need Newcomers?
It’s no secret that the death rate exceeds the birthrate in every jurisdiction in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, but we’re not alone. According to a March 2024 report from the Census Bureau, 69% of U.S. counties now have more people passing away than being born. However, 60% managed to counterbalance those losses through positive…
Kingsport Spirit 