NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) – The Metro Council approved a 34% property tax increase early Wednesday morning after the second-longest meeting in Council history.
The Council voted 32-8 to approve an alternative budget proposed by Councilmember Bob Mendes after a night of several failed budget proposals and technical issues.
unlike any other in Metro history. The Council weighed four different budget proposals, each of which called for a significant tax increase. Ultimately, the Council passed a crisis budget that stabilizes Metro’s finances and maintains essential city services,” Mayor John Cooper said in a statement released on Wednesday.
“A large tax increase is never easy, and it was made more painful by the sharp economic downturn brought on by COVID-19. It’s something that I would not have considered were we not facing the greatest financial challenge in Nashville’s history. It is a difficult but necessary choice for our city and our residents. I am grateful for the work of the entire Council.”
With the approved tax increase, Nashville property owners in the Urban Services District would pay $4.155 per $100 of assessed property value. Property owners in the General Services District would pay $3.755 per $100 of assessed property value. Homeowners with property valued at $300,000 will see a property tax increase of roughly $775.
“With a pandemic still around us and a city trying to recover economically, the Mayor and the Council found a way together to balance the City’s budget while keeping our core services safe. It wasn’t easy, but it was the responsible thing to do,” Vice Mayor Jim Shulman said in a statement on Wednesday.
The budget includes a 1% cost of living adjustment raise for Metro employees and $3.4 million allocated to Metro’s rainy day fund, which was less than the mayor proposed in his budget.
The raise would allow Metro to get its financial house in order and includes several important priorities:
- $2.1 million for a full deployment of body-worn cameras for the Metro Nashville Police Department, funded by the police department’s Public Health and Safety contingency;
- $4.9 million for a $15 per hour minimum wage for Metro Nashville Public School staff to bring educators’ pay in line with Metro policy, and
- $229,000 to hire a Chief Diversity Officer and a Workforce Diversity Manger.
Cooper proposed a 32% budget increase shortly after the March 3 tornado that devastated parts of the city and at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when non-essential businesses were required to shut down.
Nashville’s FY 2021 budget goes into effect on July 1, 2020
Those whose live in Nashville/Davidson County might want to move just a little and pay a lot less in property taxes and much more. If you are interested in comparing the cost of living elsewhere, I am just a phone call away at 615-364-2341 or you can always check the qr code below!
