Image Credit: NatalieMaynor / CC
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Second-term Knox County Commissioner At Large for Seat 10, Larsen Jay, says he wants to completely do away with the county’s wheel tax.
According to WVLT 8, Jay says the local tax was enacted 20 years ago for the purposes of paying for specific downtown projects.
Right now, the county’s $36.00 wheel tax brings in about $15.5 million per year and makes up approximately 1% of the county’s budget.
Jay expressed confidence that if the county commission were to agree to get rid of the wheel tax, Knox County has enough money coming in from other taxes to not impact local projects and services.
“If passed, then those projects would just be funded out of the general fund and keep it so it’s not cutting services to people. It’s just peeling back a tax,” said Jay. “A lot of people are coming here. Our sales tax is doing very well, and our community still continues to grow. It’s never a great time for everything to happen all at once, but when you see opportunities and can make it happen financially, then I think you have to take an opportunity to go for it.”
In order for Knox County to get rid of the wheel tax, the county commission would need to vote on the legislation twice over their next two meetings.
If the commission passes the legislation, the wheel tax would be repealed in phases and would entirely go away by 2028.
“By repealing this wheel tax, it gives us a chance to be a little more advantageous and a little bit more competitive with our auto dealers,” said Jay.
Tennessee counties that currently have a wheel tax include:
Campbell County – $45.00
Cannon County – $50.25
Carroll County – $45.00
Cheatham County – $51.00
Chester County – $65.35
Claiborne County – $25.00
Clay County – $75.00
Crockett County – $73.50
Davidson County – $55.00
Decatur County – $50.00
Dickson County – $60.00
Dyer County – $90.15
Fayette County – $71.00
Fentress County – $25.00
Gibson County – $50.75
Greene County – $55.00
Hamblen County – $50.00
Hancock County – $41.00
Hardeman County – $80.00
Hardin County – $47.00
Hawkins County – $67.00
Haywood County – $90.00
Henderson County – $40.00
Henry County – $40.50
Hickman County – $50.50
Houston County – $71.00
Jackson County – $40.50
Jefferson County – $50.00
Johnson County – $40.00
Knox County – $36.00
Lake County – $100.00
Lauderdale County – $65.00
Lawrence County – $25.00
Lewis County – $65.00
Lincoln County – $75.00
Macon County – $65.00
Marshall County – $50.00
Maury County – $25.00
Monroe County – $50.00
Montgomery County – $74.00
Obion County – $47.00
Overton County – $30.50
Pickett County – $10.00
Robertson County – $85.25
Rutherford County – $52.50
Scott County – $30.00
Shelby County – $75.00
Smith County – $15.00
Stewart County – $35.00
Sumner County – $51.00
Tipton County – $61.00
Trousdale County – $40.00
Union County – $30.00
Warren County – $30.00
Wayne County – $61.00
Weakley – $40.00
White County – $42.00
Williamson County – $25.75
Wilson County – $25.00
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Hope he prevails. Wheel tax is robbery.