Sunday, July 1, 2012
Councilwoman Karen Y. Johnson selected for the NBC-LEO Foundation Fellows Program
NASHVILLE, TN – Councilwoman Karen Y. Johnson was chosen from a competitive slate of national applicants for the NBC-LEO Foundation Fellows Program by the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials. The Foundation was established by the NBC-LEO constituency group of the National League of Cities. Two individuals are selected nationally each year to participate in the program.
The Fellows program supports and conducts non-partisan research, technical assistance, training, educational and informational activities, and programs to advance African American political participation at the local level.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to participate in the upcoming leadership program,” said Councilwoman Johnson. I know this will give me the opportunity to focus on the leadership tools and policies that can help me be an effective advocate for the community and our great city.”
End
Friday, June 15, 2012
Nashboro Greens Community Garage and Yard Sales
Annual Community Garage sale to be held Saturday, June 16, 2012. Many units of the community
will be participating in the sale....So come down and see what you can find!!!
Sale Starts at 7:30 a.m.
The Greens are located in Nashboro Village.
Take Nashboro BLVD to Longhunter and then 2nd left and you are there.
will be participating in the sale....So come down and see what you can find!!!
Sale Starts at 7:30 a.m.
The Greens are located in Nashboro Village.
Take Nashboro BLVD to Longhunter and then 2nd left and you are there.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Budget moves ahead as public has say on tax
The Tennessean 6/6/2011
Hundreds on both sides state their case
The people of Nashville finally had their say Tuesday on Mayor Karl Dean’s proposal for a 53-cent property tax increase, and they had a lot on their minds.
Metro Council signed off on the proposal — and the $1.71 billion budget it would help fund — on second reading in a voice vote around 10 p.m.
But that was largely a formality because Dean’s plan would have become law if the council did nothing. A final, definitive vote on the budget is expected at the next regularly scheduled council meeting June 19, when members probably will have to declare where they stand during a roll-call vote.
Tuesday’s vote came after hundreds of residents poured into the courthouse to tell council members why they should or shouldn’t support the mayor’s proposal. Many tax increase supporters wore blue outfits or sported white “Moving Nashville Forward” T-shirts. Many opponents wore yellow T-shirts with the word “TAX” inside a circle with a line drawn through it.
Ben Cunningham, a leader of the anti-tax forces, told reporters arriving at 5:45 that the council chamber was full and had already been closed. A large crowd also gathered in the second-floor lobby.
Supporters, who got to speak first, lined up at the lectern for more than 90 minutes, saying the tax increase would allow Nashville to enhance — or at least preserve — services in education, public safety, mass transit, the arts and other areas.
“Please increase my property taxes to pay for school improvement,” said Chris Moth of Green Hills, a parent in the Metro Schools system. “It’s a tiny amount to pay for the future of Nashville.”
But Ken Jakes, a business owner and unsuccessful council candidate last year, said public art on the riverfront and outside the courthouse shows that the city hasn’t been careful with its dollars and cents.
“We need to make sure the money that is taken in for this city is put in the proper places,” he said.
Opponents of the tax increase spoke for more than 90 minutes as well.
There was virtually no chance the council would kill the mayor’s plan Tuesday, because it would take effect anyway due to a procedural quirk prescribed by the Metro Charter. Because the council hasn’t considered an alternate proposal yet, Dean’s budget would have stood as the government’s default position.
Assessed value is 25 percent of the appraised value for residential property and 40 percent for commercial property.
The tax rate would go up 48 cents in the General Services District, rising from $3.56 to $4.04 per $100 of assessed value, the rate before the 2009 reappraisal. Dean’s administration initially planned to raise the rate 53 cents everywhere, but it then decided it didn’t want to risk getting sued.
A Metro Charter amendment approved by voters in 2006 requires a referendum on any proposed increase to the property tax rate beyond the level where it stood before the last countywide reappraisal.
The city would use the new revenues to raise starting teacher salaries by $5,000, moving Metro Schools into the top tier of Tennessee school districts; retain 50 police officers whose federal grant funding soon will run out; give a 4 percent pay raise to most city employees; and pay debt service on building projects that will touch schools and the general government alike.
Al Cocke, who said he has lived in Nashville since 1980, said the city’s residents and their elected officials have had to pick sides and “do battle” every time there’s been a decision to make about “Nashville’s progress toward the future.” He noted that Dean’s tax increase would be the first in the mayor’s five years in office, and it would be smaller than some sought by previous mayors.
“Can we afford this increase? Yes,” Cocke said.
Cyril Stewart, who lives in West Nashville, said cities can grow or decline and that raising taxes would be “critical” to meeting the challenges of growth “with good leadership and planning.”
But opponents said they continue to feel the pain inflicted by the economic downturn of the past few years, which has raised the cost of gas, food and other essentials.
“How much more are we going to ask the residents of this city to fork up?” Bellevue resident Lonnie Spivak said.
Local Libertarian Party Chairman Daniel Lewis questioned the entire enterprise at an even more fundamental level, telling council members that “taxation is theft.”
Without new revenue, the city would have to make big cuts in government services, Dean has said.
The mayor has recommended a $1,710,193,100 budget. That represents a $124.4 million, 7.85 percent increase over the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. The tax increase and other revenue growth actually would generate $149.4 million in new money, but that would be offset by $25 million that the city used in one-time reserve funds this year.
The proposed budget would not use any reserves to make ends meet, Metro Finance Director Rich Riebeling has said.
Contact Michael Cass
at 615-259-8838 or
mcass@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @tnmetro.
Hundreds on both sides state their case
The people of Nashville finally had their say Tuesday on Mayor Karl Dean’s proposal for a 53-cent property tax increase, and they had a lot on their minds.
Metro Council signed off on the proposal — and the $1.71 billion budget it would help fund — on second reading in a voice vote around 10 p.m.
But that was largely a formality because Dean’s plan would have become law if the council did nothing. A final, definitive vote on the budget is expected at the next regularly scheduled council meeting June 19, when members probably will have to declare where they stand during a roll-call vote.
Tuesday’s vote came after hundreds of residents poured into the courthouse to tell council members why they should or shouldn’t support the mayor’s proposal. Many tax increase supporters wore blue outfits or sported white “Moving Nashville Forward” T-shirts. Many opponents wore yellow T-shirts with the word “TAX” inside a circle with a line drawn through it.
Ben Cunningham, a leader of the anti-tax forces, told reporters arriving at 5:45 that the council chamber was full and had already been closed. A large crowd also gathered in the second-floor lobby.
Supporters, who got to speak first, lined up at the lectern for more than 90 minutes, saying the tax increase would allow Nashville to enhance — or at least preserve — services in education, public safety, mass transit, the arts and other areas.
“Please increase my property taxes to pay for school improvement,” said Chris Moth of Green Hills, a parent in the Metro Schools system. “It’s a tiny amount to pay for the future of Nashville.”
But Ken Jakes, a business owner and unsuccessful council candidate last year, said public art on the riverfront and outside the courthouse shows that the city hasn’t been careful with its dollars and cents.
“We need to make sure the money that is taken in for this city is put in the proper places,” he said.
Opponents of the tax increase spoke for more than 90 minutes as well.
There was virtually no chance the council would kill the mayor’s plan Tuesday, because it would take effect anyway due to a procedural quirk prescribed by the Metro Charter. Because the council hasn’t considered an alternate proposal yet, Dean’s budget would have stood as the government’s default position.
The tax increase's effect
The tax increase, which would be Metro’s first in seven years, would generate about $100 million in new revenue. It would raise the tax rate from $4.13 to $4.66 per $100 of assessed value in the Urban Services District — 3 cents below the $4.69 rate that was in effect when Dean took office in 2007, before a countywide reappraisal.Assessed value is 25 percent of the appraised value for residential property and 40 percent for commercial property.
The tax rate would go up 48 cents in the General Services District, rising from $3.56 to $4.04 per $100 of assessed value, the rate before the 2009 reappraisal. Dean’s administration initially planned to raise the rate 53 cents everywhere, but it then decided it didn’t want to risk getting sued.
A Metro Charter amendment approved by voters in 2006 requires a referendum on any proposed increase to the property tax rate beyond the level where it stood before the last countywide reappraisal.
The city would use the new revenues to raise starting teacher salaries by $5,000, moving Metro Schools into the top tier of Tennessee school districts; retain 50 police officers whose federal grant funding soon will run out; give a 4 percent pay raise to most city employees; and pay debt service on building projects that will touch schools and the general government alike.
Al Cocke, who said he has lived in Nashville since 1980, said the city’s residents and their elected officials have had to pick sides and “do battle” every time there’s been a decision to make about “Nashville’s progress toward the future.” He noted that Dean’s tax increase would be the first in the mayor’s five years in office, and it would be smaller than some sought by previous mayors.
“Can we afford this increase? Yes,” Cocke said.
Cyril Stewart, who lives in West Nashville, said cities can grow or decline and that raising taxes would be “critical” to meeting the challenges of growth “with good leadership and planning.”
But opponents said they continue to feel the pain inflicted by the economic downturn of the past few years, which has raised the cost of gas, food and other essentials.
“How much more are we going to ask the residents of this city to fork up?” Bellevue resident Lonnie Spivak said.
Local Libertarian Party Chairman Daniel Lewis questioned the entire enterprise at an even more fundamental level, telling council members that “taxation is theft.”
Without new revenue, the city would have to make big cuts in government services, Dean has said.
The mayor has recommended a $1,710,193,100 budget. That represents a $124.4 million, 7.85 percent increase over the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. The tax increase and other revenue growth actually would generate $149.4 million in new money, but that would be offset by $25 million that the city used in one-time reserve funds this year.
The proposed budget would not use any reserves to make ends meet, Metro Finance Director Rich Riebeling has said.
Contact Michael Cass
at 615-259-8838 or
mcass@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @tnmetro.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Reminder Today Tues, June 5 Public Hearing at Metro Council on Proposed Tax, Community Mtg Mon June 11 and Property appraisal appeals deadline June 15
http://www.district29community.blogspot.com/2012/05/agenda-and-attached-handouts-from.htmlhttp://www.district29community.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, June 5, 2012 Public Hearing - Metro Council Meeting on Proposed Budget, 6:30 p.m. at the Metro Council Meeting, Historic Courthouse Downtown, One Public Square. This is the only time the public will be able to address the Metro Council.
Monday, June 11, 2012 District 29 Community Meeting - Proposed Budget with Tax Levy, 6:30 p.m. Una Church of Christ, 1917 Old Murfreesboro Pike.
Assessor explains tax notice information
The Tennessean, June 1, 2012
(Editor’s note: A Tennessee Voices column that appeared on this page earlier this week contained some information about notices of classification, appraised value and assessed value of Davidson County property that may have been misleading. Below is a statement from George Rooker, Davidson County assessor of property, that we hope will clear up any confusion.)
Any Davidson County taxpayer who wishes to appeal the appraised value, classification or assessment of their property must schedule an appeal with the Metropolitan Board of Equalization no later than June 15, 2012. Appeals may be scheduled by calling 615-862-6059 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., or in person at the Assessor’s Office, located at 700 Second Ave. S., Suite 210, Nashville.
Not all taxpayers in Davidson County will receive a Notice of Appraised Value, Classification and Assessment for 2012. Only those property owners whose values have changed for 2012 will receive a notice. The Assessor’s Office has not updated property appraisals since the 2009 reappraisal program unless physical changes such as new construction, additions, demolitions, or major renovations occurred. The appraised values of all Davidson County properties will be updated next year as part of the 2013 reappraisal program; however, all taxpayers have the right to appeal in any tax year.
Records of the 2012 appraised value, classification and assessment for all properties are now available to the public on our website at www.padctn.com by using the WebPro utility, calling our office at 615-862-6059, or in person at 700 Second Ave. S., Suite 210, Nashville.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Facebook Users There are now Helpful Pages for our Community
Open to all!
Nashville District 29 Metro Council https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/219511968078200/
Hip Antioch - Helpful Site for All https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/HipAntioch/?bookmark_t=group
Closed site for "The Nashboro Greens" - only for residents of the "NASHBORO GREENS"
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/275701555829874/?bookmark_t=group
Dollar General employee shot during robbery
WKRN CHANNEL 2 News
Posted: Jun 04, 2012 1:48 PM CDT
Updated: June 4, 2012 02:16 PM CDT
Posted: Jun 04, 2012 1:48 PM CDT
Updated: June 4, 2012 02:16 PM CDT
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