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July 2, 2008
SEVIERVILLE, TN – Unemployment is up in Sevier County, and although it's just 0.1 percent, it's historic.
For the first time in more than 35 years, unemployment is up from April to May.
It’s not good news for a county that depends on you to survive, but it may be good news for you.
The County as a whole is seeing less sales tax revenue, and that indicates that businesses are seeing less.
Some lodging resorts are filling up, but they're doing it by offering specials during a season they normally don't have to.
Sevier County's beauty and unexpected sights draw millions of tourist every year during this heart-of-tourism season, but not so far this year.
"They would normally come automatically but this year you have to work at it."
Dayna Day with Sunset Cabin Rental and Realty says things have been a little tough.
"We're seeing that some of the larger cabins that would normally already be filled with families are not filled."
It's only 0.1 percent, but Sevier County has seen its first increase ever from April to May in unemployment since figures were first taken more than thirty years ago.
Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters says, "Uncertain economic times we're in. I think the price of gas coupled with the housing crisis."
Waters says the bad news from the area is also reflecting back in the county's sales tax revenue.
"We were down in what we received in June, which is April's collections, about six percent."
Waters says that has prompted them to forecast a less rosy budget still unpassed for the new fiscal year that begins in July.
But if there's a bright spot, it's tourism in Pigeon Forge.
Lila Wilson with the Pigeon Forge Tourism Department says, “Preliminary figures through May show that our gross receipts are up one percent and we'll take that 1 percent."
For those in the cabin rental business and elsewhere, it's a tourists market.
Day says "20 percent off on a two night stay. Stay three nights for the price of two."
Dayna Day says it seems people are waiting a little longer this year in making their reservations.
What the future holds is still in the air, but there's still hope.
Lila Wilson says interest is still there. She says the number of inquiries to the area is up 14 percent.
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