Looks like a property tax hike is in the works for Williamson County (Jackson: sales, car registration)

[septimus]

County tax increase called all but inevitable | tennessean.com | The Tennessean

[Big TR]

Outstanding. Let's not cut the budget, let's raise taxes instead. Even in the reddest of the red areas people want to raise taxes.

Good times.

[septimus]

Here's today's article on the topic. County discusses 'significant' tax hike | The Tennessean | tennessean.com County

What I don't get is the article says the county is "assuming" a 2% increase in property values. My house is up for reassessment this year. Based on zillow and what has happened in the market, I don't see my house even appraising for what it appraised for in 2006.

[Big TR]

If they raise everybody's assessment 2% across the board it doesn't mean anything. Picture the revenue budget for the county like a pie. Our home values sit in that pie. If everybody's value goes up 2%, the total size of the pie doesn't change. Only raising taxes increases the size of the pie.

If they raise everybody's value 2% and don't reduce from $2.31, then that is a net tax increase.

[Vandy-bound]

Based on the example with a home value of $343,300, this theoretical tax increase would mean only an additional ~$200 in taxes. Seriously? Coming from the ridiculously taxed "Crook" County, IL, this is silly. Taxes here are already incredibly low for the services and schools. It inferred that the county is also looking at "tightening their belts" in addition to a potential tax increase. I'm not seeing a whole lot of wasteful spending going on, and maintaining property values is associated with keeping the schools well funded and test scores high. If that requires an extra $200/yr, I'm happy to pay that. It's when the schools start to slip and property values go down despite high taxes that I'm unhappy.

[brentwoodgirl]

I'm okay with an increase. Dr. Looney has been saying all year that the schools need more money.
I would be okay with a property tax increase or a car registration increase. I don't think they should increase the sales tax.
We paid more property tax in Davidson County on a house that was worth less and got the priviledge of paying for private school also.

I wish Williamson County had curbside recycling, that is one thing I really miss from Nashville. I get tired of having all the different recycling containers in the garage. It was nice to have one big trash can, with someone else picking up and sorting.
I don't mind paying for trash pickup, it's cheap and our garbage men ring the door if we forget to put out the can.

[Kevin south of Nashville]

As strong as the county is performing right now, I’d agree with Vandy-bound and brentwoodgirl. Keep up the good work; and stay attractive to new corporations like Jackson National Life Insurance.

[Wmsn4Life]

Believe me, the school system has cut everything that you'd want to know about. The biggest chunk of the school system budget goes to teacher salaries, and they don't want to fire teachers. The price of teacher benefits also has skyrocketed.
So now certain core classes are working with only class sets of textbooks (no individual texts for students). Teachers are wearing more clothes to school as the heat is turned down a bit; lights are turned off more. School cafeterias now charge for stuff that once was free such as napkins, condiments, forks, etc.
Class and field trips have been axed, secondary positions are cut or go unfilled. Sports teams no longer get a team bus for away games.
It's not wasteful stuff that's being cut. It's stuff you may never have thought about. But it's being considered now.
A property tax hike is not too much to ask considering that we all enjoy increased property values driven upward by ... the county school system.

[Wmsn4Life]

Originally Posted by Kevin south of Nashville

As strong as the county is performing right now, I’d agree with Vandy-bound and brentwoodgirl. Keep up the good work; and stay attractive to new corporations like Jackson National Life Insurance.

Corporate headquarters are the No. 1 target of county economic officials, and these are coming most often from states with a state income tax or much higher taxes in general.
I was at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon where the Jackson CEO spoke recently, and he said they (like most relocating companies) directly compared Nashville to Austin and Charlotte. Our county is a draw because of the lower cost, the quality of life (including schools) and the availability of executive housing. But one of Mike Wells' primary factors he considered was affordability for his lowest-paid employees.
If they can't afford to live in the community, the company will have high turnover, then customers will deal with more inexperienced reps, then the higher-ups will be unhappy and overall product quality will suffer.

[septimus]

I agree we need a rate hike. I wonder how this will play out with non-parents.

Interestingly, the state school board association (which WCS aren't part of) is pushing for all school districts to have special taxing power just like the current special school districts.