Carter County Is Spending At Historic Levels To Recover From Hurricane Helene, With Projects Ranging From Debris Removal To Repairing Infrastructure And Potentially Building A New High School. County Trustee Chad Lewis Says Reserves Built In Recent Years And Higher Interest Rates Have Helped, But The Impact Is Already Being Felt, With Property Tax Collections Down 7%. The County Has Spent Nearly $1 Million So Far And Secured A $4 Million No-Interest Loan To Fund Debris Removal. Officials Expect FEMA Reimbursements Will Take Years, Adding Strain To The Budget. Recovery Costs Continue To Create Uncertainty For The County’s Finances.