The Fayetteville City Schools became operational in 1910. Since then, the system has been known as one of the best in the State of Tennessee. The system provides excellent facilities, highly qualified classroom teachers, a challenging curriculum, and up-to-date technology. The Fayetteville City Schools have consistently ranked among the top ten systems in the state based on academic achievement, and both the schools and the school board have received awards for excellence in recent years.

The system operates one primary school (PreK-3), one intermediate school (4-6), and one junior high school (7-9) for approximately 1100 students. All three schools are fully accredited by the State of Tennessee and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The system also operates a before- and after-school day care program (FAST) and offers remedial and enrichment programs after school. For more information, visit the website: www.fcsboe.org.

The City Department of Education is located at 110A South Elk Avenue, Fayetteville, TN 37334. The telephone number is (931) 433-5542.

Lincoln County School System

Lincoln County is home to two public and two private school systems. Lincoln County Department of Education (www.lcdoe.org) is the largest system, currently serving approximately 4,000 in 9 schools. The system has 6 pre-kindergarten through eighth grade community elementary schools, one Ninth Grade Academy which serves all 330 of the county’s ninth graders, one 10-12 comprehensive high school with active academic, vocational, and sports programs, and an Adult High School. All schools are SACS accredited and all meet federal and state No Child Left Behind mandates.

The Lincoln County School System recognizes its obligation to provide programs to prepare students for meaningful educational experiences. All of our elementary schools have strong research based reading programs in place in their pre-kindergarten through third grade classrooms. Reading and writing programs are continued through the 8th grade. County writing scores far exceed the state average. Mathematics is also stressed as an important life skill, and our county’s math scores are all above state and national average. Lincoln County Schools are designed to help students choose and prepare for a productive life so that each student may develop to the benefit of society.

The Lincoln County Department of Education is located at 206 Davidson Street East, Fayetteville, TN 37334. The telephone number is (931) 433-3565.

Private School

Riverside Christian Academy is a private elementary school system located at 116 Riverside Lane in Fayetteville. RCA’s mission is to provide a non-denominational, Christ-centered educational experience, focusing on academic excellence through values-based teaching. RCA purposes to enrich the whole person – mind, body, and soul.

Admission decisions are based on many factors which may include, but are not limited to, the following: the family’s desire for Christian education, the student’s conduct in previous years, the student’s academic history, and the student’s attitude. Any child denied admission shall be eligible for re-application the following school year.

For further information contact RCA at (931) 438-4722 or you may visit the website at: www.riversidechristianacademy.org

Motlow State Community College

Motlow State Community College is a center for lifelong learning and growth opportunities for the second largest geographical region served by a Tennessee community college. A public, comprehensive, two-year, open access institution with more than 8,500 graduates, Motlow College is strategically located throughout its 11-county service area with four campuses – Moore County (main), Fayetteville Center, McMinnville Center, and Smyrna Teaching Site and enrolls more than 3,400 credit students. Fayetteville – Lincoln County, preceded only by Rutherford and Coffee, respectively, is the third largest feeder community to Motlow College. Of the 3,400 Motlow students, 411 or 11.6 percent are Lincoln County residents.

With the Fayetteville Center, the Don Sundquist Center for Advanced Technologies, and the Computer Integrated Manufacturing Center (CIM), which is housed in the Sundquist Center, Fayetteville/Lincoln County residents have greater opportunities and options to engage in higher education activities, including day, afternoon, evening, on-line, and weekend classes as well as technical, skilled, and specialized training. The varied curriculum provides training opportunities among the industrial and professional communities and Motlow College. The college awards the Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science degrees and Technical Certificates of Credit and offers 51 programs of study.

Motlow is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the National League for Nursing. Please visit the Motlow College Web site at www.mscc.edu or call (931) 393-1500 for additional information.

We are close – But! If you are wanting a lifestyle that is small town Americana…neighbors that care about neighbors…schools, church, & community organizations that say welcome with their smiles, handshakes, & heart…come check us out.

If you like what you see, hear, & feel in Fayetteville – Lincoln County, TN, you are home! We’ll find you your house or farm.

Footnote: The following websites are the best places to check what is available on the market in Fayetteville – Lincoln County, TN. www.valleymls.com and www.realtracs.com

The area housing market in Fayetteville and Lincoln County has shown a steady increase in the last several years. There are several spec houses available now and more are being built that range in price from $85,000 to $350,000.

Currently there is one new subdivision inside the city limits that is just beginning to develop with approximately 10-12 houses already built and occupied and several more under construction. These houses range in price from approximately $250,000 to $350,000 and there are 25 to 30 lots left in this development.

Behind this subdivision is another site that is in the process of being developed but is not quite ready for construction. These houses will be in the same price range as the above- mentioned subdivision.

In the County, we have one contractor who has developed several new subdivisions and is in the process of developing more now. He has built approximately 100-125 houses in the $80,000 to $115,000 price range. In addition, there are numerous other contractors building custom houses and spec houses.

There are a few apartment complexes available now. However, there are two projects underway to build the zero lot line patio houses and one project involving town houses that are in progress now.

In addition to the above mentioned, there are land tracts available in the County ranging from half acre building lots to large acreages.

Information regarding Fayetteville and Lincoln County is available on the internet site:
www.vallnet.com//business.html and www.vallnet.com/business/goverment.html

Property Tax Information for Lincoln County

Lincoln County is a wonderful place to live. Our property tax rate for the 2005 year is $2.23. This amount is distributed as follows:

Taxes are calculated by the following:

• Assessment Value of land or/and any improvements (buildings)
• Multiplied by .25%
• Multiplied by the tax rate (2.23)
• Total amount due (amount is always rounded to the higher dollar)
  

Information concerning real or personal property taxes in Lincoln County can be found by going to the following website: www.coomptroller.state.tn.us/cpdivpa.htm

The Assessor and Trustee’s offices have contracted with SDS (Smart Data Strategies) to handle mapping data. Smart Data Strategies serves as a trusted broker of parcel data through eMapsPlus. Through eMapsPlus, you can search and view parcel records for a selected state, city, or county. You can purchase that data, or use the eMapsPlus site to house your data for your own use. SDS can be found at: www.sds-inc.com

Information concerning all elected officials and their job descriptions can be found on the county website: www.vallnet.com/lincolncounty

City of Fayetteville

Fayetteville/Lincoln has a sales tax rate of 9.5%. Seven percent of this is state and two and one half percent is local.

The City of Fayetteville and Lincoln County both have property tax. Rates are as follows:

The State of Tennessee does not have an income tax.

To establish new service you may apply at the Fayetteville Public Utilities office between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at our office at 408 College Street West. The telephone number is (931) 433- 1522. You will need to provide two proofs of identification (one must be a picture I.D. card), complete a service application, and pay the applicable security deposit and fees.

For online applications go to www.fayelectric.com and click on Apply for Service Online, enter all relevant information and send it to FPU. We will process your service application as you request to make being a customer of FPU easy, affordable, and convenient.

The need for a deposit is determined by the following:
ONLINE Utility Exchange is designed to screen service applicants to determine their credit risk based upon three criteria: Social Security Number verification, deposit decisions based upon credit risk, and payment experience with other utility providers.

FPU shall consider the status of the applicant and act according to the following criteria for residential service: Standard deposits no social security number given: $150.00 for electric service, $150.00 for gas service, $100.00 for water service – If allowed to run credit check, the deposit may be reduced as follows:

New-service applicants who pose no credit risk (Green Light returned on ONLINE Utility Exchange) will be charged no deposit for each service. New-service applicants who pose minimal risk (Yellow Light returned on ONLINE Utility Exchange) will be charged a $50.00 deposit for each service. New-service applicants who pose substantial credit risk (Red Light returned on ONLINE Utility Exchange) will be charged a $150.00 deposit for electric service, $150.00 for gas service and $100.00 for water service.

Lincoln County Board of Public Utilities

The Lincoln County Board of Public Utilities provides dependable water service for their 7,593 customers in rural Lincoln County. Our office is located at 2863 Huntsville Highway (between Airport Road and Highland Rim Road). The phone number is (931) 433-2259. Please call before purchasing real estate to confirm that water service is available, as a few roads in Lincoln County do not have county water lines on them. Our two main slogans are “War on Leaks” and “Working for You.”

The average cost of installing a county water tap is $900.00. For an existing tap with a name change only, the cost is $100.00. If you have purchased a new home in a sub-division that has a tap already in place, the cost is $200.

The average water bill for two people is $28.00/month, with a family of four averaging $40/month.

For a new resident to the State of Tennessee, the following is required for vehicle registration:

If the vehicle you are registering is clear of all liens, we need the certificate of title, and your TN driver’s license.

If the vehicle is financed, we need your current tag receipt/registration, the full name and address of the finance company, and your TN driver’s license.

The fee for the above transaction is $59.50 for a standard tag and title fee. Acceptable means of payment are cash, money order, or a check with your local address on it.

Our office hours are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. We are open the last Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. – 12 noon. Our telephone number is (931) 433-2454.

City of Fayetteville

Pet registration is not required in the City of Fayetteville. However, there is a leash law that requires that pets be on a leash or in a fence.

y wife and I returned to Fayetteville and Lincoln County to enjoy our retirement years. We had served our country in the U. S. Navy for thirty-eight years and had the good fortune to visit much of planet earth. We had lived in Hawaii, Italy and many of our coastal cities. We were both born in Fayetteville, but had lived in other places for over 50 years before our return in 2003. We decided to come home and have never regretted our decision for one minute.

Lincoln County is a land of beauty with rolling hills and green pastures. The people are friendly and supportive of our state and country. Taxes for the retiree are lower than most states and the cost of living is substantially lower than in other cities. The climate is one of four lovely seasons with little snow in the winter and warm summers. There are several cities within 70 miles that provide air transportation and a variety of shopping opportunities. Three cars consist of a traffic jam on a busy day.

y wife Nancy and I moved to Fayetteville from Saint Louis, Missouri in August of 1997 as a result of BRAC 95. We were a 30- year U. S. Army career military family, retiring from active duty in 1986. I then worked for the Army as a civilian employee for a total of 18 years, retiring at Redstone Arsenal in December 2004. We selected Fayetteville as a home for a number of reasons, but the two primary ones were, that it put us close to our daughter, who lives in Franklin, and there is no state income tax in Tennessee. Nancy actually made the selection and I, as I normally do, just verified it.

We could not be more pleased with our new hometown. We have friends here, a lovely place to live, fabulous support from the community, and opportunities for community service and enjoyment of life that we never had anywhere else that we lived.

The City Government of Fayetteville and the Lincoln County Government work together in harmony to live up to the motto “Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow”. The law enforcement agencies are forward thinking activities that serve and protect the entire community very well. Both the City and County School Systems are excellent, and rank very high in Tennessee in test scores and other demonstrated results. They have excellent programs in academics, and recognize those students, as well as, those that are engaged in athletics. The schools have great athletic programs, and there are very numerous and strong athletic programs outside the schools. The County has a brand new sparkling hospital, as well as, supportive long term care facilities. There is a “Wellness” facility that is far ahead of most small communities. Fire protection is excellent and professional in the City, and is handled very well in the County by a linked system of volunteer activities that provide very good coverage. Emergency warning and communications centers are established and rank very high in the state. Quality of life is wonderful here. There are good restaurants, good stores and great support agencies. You will find a number of friendly and supportive realtors that will do everything in their power to find what is needed and satisfy all requirements. The community contains a number of retired military and civil servants and there is support, as well as, understanding here for these folks. The dominant feature in Fayetteville is the town square. It is alive with all kinds of businesses ready to serve customers with friendly help and efficient actions. Events happen on and around the square all year long. There is something for everyone.

The famous Tennessee spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in Fayetteville and Lincoln County. There are opportunities to be served by the community, and to serve the community in just about any way imaginable. BRAC is a traumatic experience for everyone involved. In our case, it was a welcome event because it brought us closer to our family and to a place that was suitable for our retirement. Even at that it was difficult for us, and for those facing an undesired move and being separated from all familiar things, it is very problematic. I sincerely believe that a move to Lincoln County would be the best choice to relieve some of the stress associated with BRAC, and anyone choosing this course of action will definitely be happy with the decision.

I would be happy to assist in any way possible.