Did you know that property tax collected from new development does not pay for roads? For over 20 years residents have been told property tax revenue from new development will pay for infrastructure, more specifically roads.
But according to the 2024 Cost of Housing study, that's not the case.
The report says ONLY 0.0080 of the property tax rate is allocated specifically for roads.
Example in report, 2023 property tax collected for roads only:
28 lots in the Bainbridge Park Subdivision (Ooltewah-Georgetown Road)
$69 -- annual
All 90 lots (2023 tax rate)
$221 -- annual
$6,653 -- 30 years (in 20-30 years or less roads need to be repaved)
Approximate repaving cost (0.62 miles) based on 2025 rate (milling not included) $62,000
Only one tenth of the cost to repave Bainbridge Park Subdivision Roads is collected in 30 years
Does not include the main collector or arterial roads
New subdivisions create new roads for taxpayers to take care of and property tax has not and will not pay for road improvements.
At the June 11 County Commission meeting, Julian Bell, representing the Home Builders Association, said there is no reason to embrace this lack of infrastructure with this new layer of regulation.
The strain on the infrastructure created by all of the new developments is exactly the reason why we need new area plans.
The plans should be based on existing infrastructure and the community's vision and goals, not on an industry's profit margin.
The Area 9 Committee created a plan based on the community's vision and then compromised with those in the homebuilding industry.
Now the Home Builders and Realtors Associations want even more density without offering any data or traffic studies to back it up.
We don't need more density and more urban sprawl.
The Home Builder and Realtors 5 page amendments for all area plans that include allowing three housing units per acre on all property zoned as A-1 (2 per acre) if a public or decentralized sewer system is used and allowing monthly plan changes (business as usual) should not be approved.
Many of our two lane rural roads can't handle current traffic. And in Area 9, which consists of mainly two lane roads, we don't not need three homes per acre on already congested roads like Snow Hill, Hunter, and Ooltewah-Georgetown when there are already over 5,000 housing units coming soon.
Please call/email county commissioners to ask them to vote no on the five page Home Builders and Realtors Associations amendments and yes to the Area 9 Compromise Plan.
And please attend the County Commission meeting on June 18 at 9:30 a.m., HC Courthouse, 625 Georgia Avenue, 4th floor(Parking garage next door between Walnut St and Cherry St.)
Becky Murray