The Greeneville City Council approved their proposed 2024 Fiscal Year budget, which will have an increase on city property taxes, however the 13% increase isn’t exactly permanent.
Although the $.28 tax increase was approved for this upcoming year’s budget, there will still be a state certified rate in the next few weeks. City Manager Todd Smith explained the state law says that any city or county government can’t experience growth in revenue because of growth in property value.
The state of Tennessee does a five-year reappraisal on properties and makes an adjustment to taxes for the city and the county. Smith says as properties go up in value, the tax rate gets adjusted down, so the $.28 increase could more than likely be lower.
A public hearing was held before the final reading on the budget. Some residents expressed concerns and felt the tax increase is really going to harm them. Some expressed how they currently live paycheck to paycheck and citizens in Greeneville are struggling. They asked for the council to consider how this would affect people in the town, with some having to pay both city and county property taxes, and a lot of older folks being on a fixed income.
School Resource Officer Teddy Lawing asked if the tax increase could possibly be put off until the certified tax rate was completed but the council decided to move forward with the approval of the tax increase as the deadline for the 2024 budget was approaching quickly. Smith expressed adjusting the budget after the certified tax rate would not be an issue, but if the budget wasn’t finalized, that wouldn’t be as much of a simple fix.
Council Member Scott Bullington brought up tax relief through the state for disabled and elderly. Applications can be picked up at their finance office at Greeneville Town Hall and those who apply can receive help while they’re there. For questions call 787.6187.
