Knoxville City Council Member Announces Plan To Vote Against Mayor’s Proposed Tax Increase

Image Credit: Andrew Roberto – Knoxville City Council, District 2 / Facebook & Canva

The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

Knoxville City Council member Andrew Roberto announced Wednesday that he will vote against Mayor Indya Kincannon’s proposed local sales tax increase, criticizing the plan for lacking transparency and specific project details.

In a post on his Comments from the Councilman blog, Roberto expressed concerns about the proposed half-percent increase in the city’s local sales tax which would raise the tax from 2.25% to 2.75%

Mayor Kincannon introduced the sales tax proposal in May as a way to generate revenue for infrastructure upgrades such as sidewalk improvements near schools and building more affordable housing units. 

The Knoxville City Council approved the ordinance in June, sending the proposal to the ballot for a public vote. While Roberto ultimately voted in favor of placing the measure on the ballot during both readings, he now says the plan was rushed and inadequately explained. 

Roberto cited the Mayor’s lack of transparency as a key reason for the change in his stance.

“No clear explanation was given for the urgency or specific plans behind this move, even when I provided space for these concerns to be addressed at the City Council workshop on May 29th,” he said. 

In June, the city released a Five-Year Neighborhood Investment Plan outlining how the proposed tax revenue would be used. Officials claim the additional funding could allow the city to complete two decades’ worth of projects in just five years. 

However, Roberto remains unconvinced, especially with uncertainty around how city priorities might shift if Knox County decides to pursue a similar sales tax increase in the future.

“Without specifics, voters cannot be confident their tax dollars will be used as intended,” he said.

Despite his opposition, Roberto urged Knoxville residents to inform themselves before casting their votes. 

“While I personally do not support Kincannon’s proposed sales tax increase, I encourage voters to learn more about the issue so that they can make their own informed decision at the polls,” he stated.

Council member Amelia Parker was the only official to vote against the ordinance during both readings.