MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) — Property tax rates could quadruple in Mt. Juliet next year. Currently, the city has one of the lowest rates in the state at just $0.11.

City commissioners voted on Monday night on the first reading of next year's budget proposal. It includes a hike on property taxes as well as job cuts for several city employees.

“By going five times the property tax rate, I think is a little irresponsible,” one constituent said during public comment.

Mt. Juliet Board of Commissioners listened to nearly two hours of public comments that ranged on a variety of concerns, one of those being a hike in property taxes for next year’s budget. The rate was amended Monday night to go from $0.11 to $0.44.

“I do not understand how any of you can look at your constituents and say last year $0.11 was just fine and this year we are going to raise them five or six times. That's not just sitting right with me, and it's giving me heartburn,” another constituent said during public comment.

“We’ve got some hard decisions to make tonight,” said Scott Hefner, District 3 Commissioner.

On Monday, Hefner was the only commissioner to vote against the proposed budget for next year. He said this large tax increase could have been avoided if property tax rates had slowly gone up years ago. "We should have been looking at tax increases three years ago, two years ago, last year,” Hefner said.

Part of the proposed budget would also end contracts for a couple of city employees, including the Deputy Parks Director and the city’s Public Information Officer. Multiple people spoke in favor of keeping the city’s spokesperson, Justin Beasley, including Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto.

“I don’t want to ever see any of our staff cut; they all have a role, and they were hired for a reason, but I have pressured and pressured our city manager to looks for ways to cut and this is one of his recommendations,” James Maness, Mt. Juliet Mayor said.  

Mayor James Maness said the increase in property taxes is needed for the city’s infrastructure improvements, roads and the expansion of public safety. Currently, Mt. Juliet is one of ten cities in the state to have its own ambulance service. The city is also building new police headquarters.

"We are the #4 ranked safest city in the state of Tennessee...We don’t become the 4th safest city for free. That comes at a cost and comes in a way of investing in our police report," Hefner said.

Mayor Maness said a property tax increase would generate $7 million in revenue, which he said would be an investment for the city's future.

“We are making sure we are providing the same services that we did yesterday, that we are going to be doing for tomorrow,” Bill Trivett, Vice Mayor, said.

Board of Commissioners will vote on the second reading on June 23.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/mt-juliet-tn-property-tax-rates-could-quadruple/