NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Even though Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell has proposed to cut the tax rate, you might end up paying more in property taxes. On Thursday, some Davidson County residents gathered to voice their thoughts.

Data from the Davidson County Property Assessor showed that the median property value increased between 38 and 54% during the latest appraisal. Effectively, the lower tax rate has been canceled out by the increase in property values — and that has raised concerns among some residents.

O'Connell submitted his recommended budget Thursday, which included what he called the "lowest property tax rate for Nashville in decades."

Some members of Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee, GOP Nashville and the Nashville Tea Party rallied outside the Downtown branch of the Nashville Library Thursday. They were all united in a clear message — no more hikes in property taxes.

The protestors gathered as O'Connell filed his recommended budget for the 2026 fiscal year.

"A budget is fundamentally both things at the same time: the expression of need and the way to pay for it," O'Connell said.

The recommended budget includes a tax rate of 2.814. That's down from the current rate of 3.254.

However, the lower rate is essentially canceled out in many areas by overall increases in property values. The protestors argued that the cost is too high.

"He's doing some fuzzy math there because I am telling you I paid more last year than I have paid in decades," Pamela Furr, Grassroots Director with AFP-TN, said.

"It is just going to continue to hurt me every single year," Jason Weakley, Chairman of GOP Nashville said. "I already pay a mortgage; don’t make me pay more in property tax...I'm not your ATM. I'm not your piggy bank."

O'Connell cited the need for more government resources as the reason for the new proposed tax rate. He said it's the lowest Nashville has seen in decades and the lowest rate for large cities in Tennessee.

"What they won’t tell you is what they're proposing means we wouldn’t fund our school safety, we wouldn’t open a new police precinct in Southeast Nashville," O'Connell said. "...Building schools, patching potholes, picking up trash and keeping people safe are all more expensive."

"There is an opposition to the Mayor and the City Council’s reckless spending," Weakley said. "This is a spending problem."

The Mayor's recommended budget moves to Metro Council for consideration before it would take effect on July 1.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/davidson-co-property-tax-rate-protest/