The Greeneville City Council has approved a $0.28 property tax rate increase on the first reading for city property owners.
The 13% increase is for the 2024 Fiscal Year Budget and will be $2.4575 per $100 of assessed value on all real and personal property. The previous property tax rate was $2.1775 per $100. It was approved unanimously with council member Tim Teague making the motion and seconded by council member Scott Bullington.
It includes $2.4 M for large capital projects with $200,000 going toward town hall repairs and maintenance projects. It will also fund the purchase of the Jeff Woods Memorial Drive property for the possible site of a new Middle School, payment for the school system HVAC and energy efficiency projects, and just over $1.2 M in salary increases for town employees.
City Manager Todd Smith expressed there is an update on the pay scale that the town is on, staying competitive with others. This will help with staffing issues that departments have and also allows the town to keep the level of service that’s expected for the Town of Greeneville. The last increase according to Smith was for the 2016 FY. The last increase before 2016 was back in 2001.
A public hearing will soon be scheduled on the matter where residents will be able to express opinions at that time.
