MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) — On Monday night, Mt. Juliet commissioners will vote on a proposed budget, which includes a multi-million dollar bond for a proposed recreation and aquatic center. Voters may soon decide the project's fate.

If commissioners approve the budget ordinance, the decision to take out a $14 million bond to fund the project would go to voters in a referendum. This also comes as a property tax rate hike looms within the budget.

Last year, former commissioner Ray Justice took News 2 to the potential future construction site of the recreation and aquatic center — a project he passed as a commissioner. 

“The aquatic rec center is definitely a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our community,” one constituent said during the last meeting of the Mt. Juliet City Commission.

While it appears residents are in favor of a community sports complex, some have expressed concerns about the project's price tag.

“We are not ready to build this facility — to borrow money in hopes that we make $1.3 million on hotel, motel tax,” another constituent said during the last meeting of the Mt. Juliet City Commission.

“It would be paid for out of the hotel motel tax rather than coming out of the taxpayers' pockets," Justice told News 2.

However, commissioners added that operational costs would come out of taxpayers' pockets through

However, commissioners told News 2 what would come out of taxpayers' pockets would be the operational costs, which would be paid through property taxes. Commissioners will also vote on whether or not to raise the city's property tax rate from $0.11 to $0.44.

Some commissioners said the large increase could have been avoided if property tax rates had climbed slowly through the years.

“We should have been looking at tax increases three years ago, two years ago — last year,” City Commissioner Scott Hefner said.

Hefner and one other city commissioner voted against the proposed budget. However, on Monday night, the proposed budget will be back in front of them as well as the rec and aquatic center.   

Justice said he hopes the project he put forward last year comes to fruition.  

“I'm excited for it to happen, — you got to get by the politics of making it happen,” Justice said. 

The City Commission meeting starts at 6:15 p.m. and takes place at Mt. Juliet City Hall. If you can't make it in person, you can follow this link to watch the meeting.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/mt-juliet-city-commission-proposed-budget-vote-future-rec-aquatic-center/