The Hamilton County Commission does not need to leave the millage alone. It should be adjusted in accordance with the law to prevent a tax increase.
How terrible that after the citizens time to meet on their reassessments has long expired, and Hamilton County stating the reassessments would not have an effect on property taxes, now they want to hit the citizens' pockets.
Randy Fairbanks is right, it is a tax increase. If they want to try this, they should wait until the next reassessment and give the citizens the opportunity to have their assessments adjusted downward.
Cindy Triplett
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This debate between two county commissioners over whether or not the term millage is a tax increase or not appears to this taxpayer as nothing more than political posturing.
Millage by definition is defined as nothing more than a calculation used to assess property taxes. I suspect that everyone did not receive a property assessment increase, therefore it cannot be a tax increase particularly if the millage number remains constant.
My suggestion is for seniors to receive a decreased tax rate then both commissioners win in addition to senior citizens albeit until another episode of political posturing occurs.
Ron Ray
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Let me see now. Mr. Ray says Mr. Graham is not proposing a tax increase. He believes (suspects - meaning he hasn’t got a clue) of what paying more money for mileage is.
If just one person whose tax assessment went up and he keeps the same mileage (even if 90 percent went down) that person's taxes went up. You get it. I guess you can guess whose assesment went up.
I am tired of people telling me it isn’t raining….Old joke. Some will get it and some will not.
Richard Elrod
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Just raise the property taxes to 14 percent. Give seven percent to new school funds and the other seven percent to build a new jail fund.
Simple.
Billy Tomas
Chattanooga
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Bravo, Cindy, that was very well stated. Let's look at the particulars of the state law. "Tennessee State Law T.C.A. 67-5-1705 states exclusive of new construction and improvements during a reappraisal, each local governing body, shall determine a tax rate which will provide the same revenue as the previous year."
By definition, per state law, any increase in revenue thru property taxes is a tax increase. What Commissioner Graham is trying to do is to get around state law by initially lowering the millage rate, and then turning right around and raising it. That's violating the spirit of the law, and by definition, raising our taxes. They're raising the millage rate to generate revenue. It doesn't take a CPA to figure it out, but that didn't stop him from arguing with one about it.
Property owners should get one of two letters from the county.
A: A refund check
Or
B: A thorough explanation by the mayor and county commissioners stating that they raised taxes.
I can tell you this, in District 1, we support Commissioner Fairbanks' stance that says no new tax increase. Here's my question to the rest of Hamilton County:
Where does your commissioner stand on the issue? Try calling them and get an answer.
James Berry
District 1 resident