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Tennessee Conservative News [By Olivia Lupia] –
According to a new report from the Beacon Center of Tennessee, the state has the worst property tax hikes in the country, experiencing the highest percentage increase in property taxes over the past six years, “by a double-digit lead over the next closest state.”
The Beacon Center reports that the Volunteer State “stands alone as the only state with over a 75 percent increase,” making it the highest percentage increase of any state, with a double-digit margin over the next-closest state, Colorado, which has risen up to 50%.
It acknowledges that Tennessee has no income tax, has recently cut taxes for small business, and “enjoys a reputation for fiscal restraint,” but also says that after scratching the surface, it becomes clear that local governments have used their “unrestrained ability to hike property taxes year after year.”
While six years of data show property taxes climbing almost everywhere, red and blue states alike and regardless of population increase or decrease, the Beacon Center says Tennessee is missing a “basic taxpayer protection,” which makes residents more susceptible to “volatile property tax increases.”
A lack of a property tax cap appears to be largely responsible for the compounding hikes, with the report noting that though most states did see an increase in average property taxes, many were more subtle thanks in part to some kind of cap.
For example, Texas, which has seen a population boom larger than Tennessee’s, managed to be the only state in the country to lower their average property tax rate while Nashville residents have seen taxes rise by 60% over the last five years.
Beyond Nashville, the hikes have been staggering over the past few years, including Mt. Juliet approving a 164% increase, Fairview up by 42%, Red Bank seeing its third increase in five years, Johnson City and Erwin each at 20%, and Bristol at 21%. Clarksville also considered a budget containing a 34% increase but ultimately passed a nearly 10% hike instead.
“Tennessee residents deserve basic taxpayer protections found in 46 other states; otherwise, massive local property tax hikes will likely continue,” the report concludes. “Though a property tax cap bill was introduced last legislative session, it never made it to the floor for a vote. The longer Tennessee goes without a property tax cap, massive local government tax hikes will continue to undercut the state’s reputation as a low-tax, fiscally responsible place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Sources:
https://www.beacontn.org/tennessee-leads-the-nation-in-property-tax-hikes
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
2 Responses
HIGH “rent”. The dark side of TN.
Elections, particularly Primaries, Matter! Know who you are electing. Politicians LOVE them tax payers hard earned money.
Yet, how come our Republican representatives haven’t addressed this yet? What say Speaker Sexton?