Political Notebook: Property tax hike in Nashville would be fifth in 15 years

The 53-cent property tax increase proposed last week by Mayor Karl Dean would be Nashville’s first in seven years, but it would be the fifth in the past 15.

In 1997, then-Mayor Phil Bredesen requested a 73-cent tax increase, which the Metro Council ultimately pared back to 54 cents per $100 of assessed value. The council vote was 29-9 in favor.

A year later, Bredesen was back with another request — which the council granted by a 27-13 vote — for a 12-cent increase to pay for a $206 million school desegregation plan.

(The council also agreed, 32-5, to a 74-cent tax increase in 1993, during Bredesen’s first term as mayor. He had requested 77 cents.)

Bill Purcell, who succeeded Bredesen as mayor in 1999, proposed and won approval for a tax increase in each of his two terms. The first, in 2001, raised the tax rate by 88 cents. The council approved it 38-2.

Four years later, Purcell proposed an 84-cent tax hike, adjusted the request to 80 cents and saw the council agree to 67 cents on a 26-11 vote. The city has not raised property taxes since then.
With the exception of the 1998 tax hike for the desegregation plan, Bredesen’s and Purcell’s tax increases all came in the fiscal year after a countywide property reappraisal. Dean, who refrained from seeking an increase as the economic downturn clouded his first term, is now asking for one the year before a reappraisal, which could raise the tax rate even higher if the overall property tax base has lost value.

Dean said his proposal would raise $100 million in new revenue, offsetting some mandatory budget increases and allowing the city to do some new things, like hiring 100 new teachers and paying them $5,000 more than rookie teachers now get. He dropped the proposed tax increase in the General Services District to 48 cents after legal concerns arose following questions from The Tennessean and others.

— Michael Cass
Tennessean

Reminder Today Saturday May 5, 2012 Help Design the New Regional Recreational Community Ctr for old JC Penney's Bldg in HH Mall

Reminder: from neighboring Councilwoman Jacobia Dowell
Your input for our new Southeast Regional Recreational Community Center, outdoor Art for the Park to be located outside of the center and new Library is needed. Please join your neighbors and neighbors throughout Southeast Nashville from 9 am until 12 noon.
Where: Antioch Community Center across from Antioch Middle School, 5023 Blue Hole Road
Light Breakfast will be served

Reminder Brush Pickup for our Area Begins May 16, 2012

Metro Nashville Public Works will begin Brush and Leaf collections in "Area 4 " on May 16, 2012.

To ensure that your brush will be collected , you should have limbs and all other yard waste out and ready for pick-up on the date above. Place only limbs, branches and true yard waste by the curb for brush crews. Lumber, household trash and other types of debris found in your brush pile means it won’t get picked up. Brush piles should not be placed close to mailboxes, utility poles, fences, trees or other stationary objects. The mechanical arm of the knuckle boom truck needs enough room to lift the brush pile up and into the trailer pulled behind the truck. Only the driver travels with each truck; no other crew members are there to move piles or separate items that don’t belong in a brush pile.

Place leaves in biodegradable paper bags only; Paper biodegradable bags can be purchased at most hardware stores, Wal-Mart's, Target, Home Depot, etc. Public Works also has a supply of these bags available for purchase at the Omohundro Convenience Center: 5 bags for $3.00 and 10 bags for $6.00. Plastic bags will not be picked up.

2011-2012 Collection Dates

Please have your brush out for collection by the following dates:

May 16, 2012

You can review details for each route on the Metro Public Works Website by clicking on the below link: http://www.nashville.gov/pw/recycle/yard/brush.asp

Reminder Tonight Wednesday May 2 Meeting regarding Undeveloped Land Parcels in Nashboro Village

Discussion Tonight will be on the following:

Site 14: Currently Approved for 144 Multi Family Units in Two Six Story Buildings proposed Development

Site 15: Currently Approved for Commercial proposed Development

Site 25: Currently approved for a Five Story Building proposed development

Site 27: Currently approved for a day care center proposed development. Zoned Multi Family.

Nashville Shores to open this Saturday

Tennessean
11:34 AM, May. 1, 2012 

Nashville Shores will open its 15th season on Saturday with a Cinco de Mayo Celebration that will include live music, a car giveaway, ethnic food offerings and dance performances.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Nashville Shores will be open weekends only through May 25, and then will open daily for the 2012 summer season. The waterpark will be closed to the public Saturday, May 12, for a private event.Admission for both days this weekend is $19.99, a discount of $12. Nashville Shores is located at 4001 Bell Road in Hermitage. For information visit 889-4001.

Mayor Dean proposes to increase property taxes

Channel 4 News (WSMV)
Posted: May 01, 2012 5:36 AM CDT
Updated: May 01, 2012 11:03 AM CDT

Posted by Scott Sutton - email

 

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean unveiled his new budget Tuesday morning, which included a proposal for a 53-cent property tax increase to Davidson County residents.

At the annual State of Metro address, Dean said the property tax increase will raise $100 million in additional revenue. The proposal will raise the tax on a $145,000 home to $192 more a year. "As long as I'm mayor, I am going to do everything I can to grow our tax base and grow more jobs for our citizens. In my mind, it's a choice between doing what it takes to keep our city strong, or letting our city fall backward," said Dean.

Dean said he also wants to hire 100 new teachers and increase the salary of first year teachers to $40,000.

Also, the mayor said he would like to increase the salary of Metro employees by 4 percent.

Dean proposed using $300 million for school capital spending, including renovations to Stratford High School and the gym at Hume-Fogg High School.

"Even with this adjustment, the effective tax rate will still remain lower than it was when I took office," said Dean.

City leaders have been busy with budget hearings over the past month. Several departments said they need more money, including schools, police and fire.

Dean delivered his speech at the new Cumberland Park on the East Bank.

The mayor and the city's finance director will go over the entire spending proposal with the City Council this afternoon.

Nashboro Village residents upset over 73-unit housing development

WKRN Channel 2 News
Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:27 PM CDT

By Tracee Tolentino, Reporter - bio | email

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -

On Monday night, some Nashboro Village residents voiced their concerns over plans to build a new 73-unit complex.

Linda Hill told Nashville's New 2 she purchased her home in the Fairview Villas six months ago and it's a place she's happy to call home.

"I got an opportunity to own property there and I've been really excited," she said.

However, that excitement has turned to frustration for Hill and others in her neighborhood as plans to build 73 homes in a small area of Nashboro Golf and Tennis Community are moving forward.The homes will be developed by Woodbine Community Organization.

"We are going to continue with that build and build the 73 units," Woodbine Community Organization's executive Director Cathie Dodd told Nashville's News 2.

According to the organization's Web site, they provide "rental properties for low to moderate income families."

Rent for the upcoming 73 units would be subsidized for residents.

"Its income capped, so nobody over a family of three making $36,000, we wouldn't be able to rent to them," Dodd explained.

Monday night, residents had the opportunity to meet face to face with Dodd and other representatives working on the project.

Residents voiced many concerns about bringing in a large subsidized housing development into their community, including crime and property value.

"When you put 73 units, it's just like dropping a bomb into our neighborhood and you've got to be blind if you don't think, I know you know it's going to affect the economic value of property and whole community [value]. You know that you've got to know that," expressed Hill during the community meeting.

"All I can say is these units were approved probably before you bought yours and they've been there and it is what it is," was the response given to Hill by Woodbine representative, David Kleinfelter. Kleinfelter also explained, "If any one person knew if property values were going to go up or down, it's like betting the horses you would know everything."

However, another upset resident expressed, "You can't answer the low income housing questions, but I bet if it were put in your neighborhood you could but it is what it is."

Residents also had concerns about the narrow road leading up to the development and a potential parking problem.

That was one question the developers were able to answer.

"We have 158 on the site, we are required at least two spaces per unit, we meet that and have 16 additional," said Preston Quirk, with Quirk Designs.

Though some of the resident's questions were answered, many were still upset.

One said, "None of you live in our community and none of you really care about our community. You got up and began by saying, 'we're here as a courtesy to you.' You're right, you are doing your jobs, but we all live here."

No start date for construction on the project has been set.