To be clear and put in words anyone can understand without all the smoke and mirrors, the mayor and the city council want to raise your taxes.
Even if you are not a property owner, you will have to pay more to live in Chattanooga. Homeowners will pay more in taxes, and renters will pay more when the property owner increases rent to pay for the increased taxes.
Mayor Kelly's new proposal increases property taxes in Chattanooga to a new millage rate based on the increased reappraisal from $1.55 to $1.93. When you add this to the new Hamilton County tax rate of $1.52, our new combined property taxes will be $3.45, which is greater than Nashville/Davidson's of $3.25.
Mayor Kelly and the city council increased property taxes 40 cents in 2021, which increased all government workers' pay including starting firefighter and police pay 24%. The 2021 budget also created the unneeded new offices of Community Health and the Office of Equity and Community Engagement. My grandmother used to call these types of agencies boondoggles.
Now Mayor Kelly wants to raise our taxes by 38 cents. Effectively, the Kelly administration will have doubled our property taxes in just five years. The mayor and city council need to find serious cuts in the budget, starting with eliminating the two new agencies he created in 2021.
As everyday citizens, we have had to make cuts to our household budgets over the last several years. Government must do the same.
Darlene Lewis
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I’m curious as to whom Jenny has spoken with. Personally, I’ve reached out to her via the council’s website and asked that she contact me and she has not done so.
Regardless, I’ve also spoken with many of our neighbors regarding the increase, whether it be the 1.99 or 1.96 which Mayor Kelly has now come out with. 100% of the neighbors are not in favor of the increase. We all think there is a more economical way to find funds for our first responders.
What would happen if we just provide the raises for our first responders and not add the other items into the budget? That might be the place to start.
I urge Council Person Hill and all of our other members to stand their ground and not pass this tax increase. Somehow, the county was able to provide raises for their officers without an increase. Why not call those members and find out how they did it?
David M. Everett
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The Mayor’s revised property tax request is a tax increase that is not justified. The city, if it makes the tax rate to $1.93, puts the city tax rate well above the county.
The City Council needs to start spending each dollar as if it is their own.
Put forward a clean budget that only increases the salaries of the police and firefighters, in addition to the added hires. Let’s get those numbers.
But the current suggestion of $1.93 is a six cent reduction from the original proposal. Proof that the mayor doesn’t get it.
Let’s hope the City Council does understand the realities. I am certain that Councilwoman Hill does.
Concerned in District 2.
Miller Leonard
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Why can't the property tax increase only include what is needed for first responder raises?
This could be a compromise.
Take the other pork out.
Nancy Michaelis