Image Credit: redbanktn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Property taxes are set to go up as the Red Bank Commission passed an increase on first reading earlier this week.
At the public meeting, where no residents spoke against the tax hike, commissioners voted 4 to 1 to approve the nine-cent increase.
The Red Bank Commission last voted for an increase in 2023. The 2025 proposal will take the city’s rate from 0.89 cents per $100 of assessed value to 0.98 cents.
The commissioners will meet again on August 10th for a final reading.
The City of Chattanooga is also looking at raising rates in light of property value increases. The hike in property tax would enable the city to give raises to fire and police departments say officials. Chattanooga’s property tax rate is currently 1.55%.
Over the last four years, property values have increased by $14 billion, the most property wealth in the city’s history, and almost twice the rate of inflation, according to Director of Housing Finance, Hanneke van Deursen.
According to van Deursen, with a rate of $2.25 per $100 of assessed value the city could generate over $80 million with which to pay first responders and take on other projects compared to the $4,745,156 if the council leaves the rate at $1.55 per $100.
On average, city taxpayers currently pay just over $2,000 in city and county taxes combined annually. Going to $2.25 would increase the tax burden by approximately $653 on the city’s tax bill.
The mayor’s Chief of Staff, Kevin Roig, told the city council on Tuesday that by not increasing the tax rate, the city would not be keeping up with inflation. According to Roig, an increase is needed to bring in $17.5 million to go along with $5 million that has already been set aside for city police and firefighters salaries.
Residents of Mt. Juliet were facing the prospect of their property taxes being quadrupled when their 0.11% rate was set to be increased to $0.54 per $100 of assessed value. The massive hike was passed on first reading but at a subsequent hearing on June 23rd, city commissioners opted to approve a lower rate of 0.29 instead. This leaves Mt. Juliet’s rate at one of the lowest in the state. Nearby Lebanon’s rate is just under $0.69.
Bristol residents will also see property taxes rise by 21% as their rate goes up to $1.87 per $100 of assessed value.
Officials initially proposed a 30% increase, but opposition from the public led to a proposal of 24%. This amount was ultimately vetoed and the rate was finally approved at 21%.
This week, the Jonesborough Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) approved a budget that included a 28% property tax increase, taking the rate from 96.6 cents to $1.24 per $100 of assessed value.
Mayor Kelly Wolfe said that the rate increase would generate needed income – an additional $800,000 – for the city to perform multiple improvements including new equipment and vehicles for responders and paving sidewalks.
Lookout Mountain residents also have an increase on the horizon.
While the certified tax rate for this appraisal year was initially set at $1.55 for every $100 of assessed value, commissioners voted to increase the rate to $1.63 after a first reading. The eight-cent raise equates to a 5% tax increase.
Mayor Walker Jones says that the city needs the additional revenue from property taxes because there is no significant income from other sources to effectively do what the city needs to do.
While Lookout Mountain receives about $75,000 annually in revenue from state gas taxes, that money is earmarked for road work.
Other Sources:
https://www.chattanoogan.com/2025/7/17/506092/Red-Bank-Approves-9-Cent-Property-Tax.aspx
https://www.chattanoogan.com/2025/7/15/506026/City-Administration-Talks-Tax-Increase.aspx
https://www.wsmv.com/2025/06/24/mt-juliet-commissioners-approve-property-tax-increase
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
I thank God every night that I’m not in some dimmercrap ran city.