Nashville Mayoral candidate Dr. Carol Swain is taking aim at Metro Council’s proposed 15.8 percent property tax increase.
Two council members — Budget Committee Chairwoman Tanaka Vercher and At-Large Councilman Bob Mendes — combined efforts after having had differing plans, Nashville Public Radio said. Mendes is dropping his plan to support Vercher’s plan of raising property taxes by 15.8 percent, increasing the rate to $3.653 per $100 of assessed value.
Mayor David Briley told Nashville Public Radio he opposes a tax increase and that he’s alarmed by the council’s plan.
Swain said in a press release she also takes issue with that and that if she were elected, she would balance the budget.
With the council’s planned tax hike, a home valued at $250,000 would see an increase of about $300, Swain said. Briley could veto the proposal and it would take a two-thirds majority vote to override.
“City Council is proposing a property tax increase that raises the cost of living for all Nashvillians without any intention of giving Metro employees the 6 percent raise they need and deserve. Mayor Briley has stated that Nashville’s forecasted revenues are up by about $100 million without property taxes. If the Mayor wants to stop City Council, he can veto the proposed tax increase. It is unacceptable that the Dean, Barry, and Briley administrations have given big businesses moving into Nashville big tax breaks and incentives, but want to impose more taxes on the people who live here. Our leaders never consider how much money is just wasted. They are only interested in taxing the people.
“As mayor, I will cut the fat. I will put forth a plan regenerating revenue without raising property taxes. But most importantly, I will have a balanced budget that prioritizes the needs of the people.”
Regarding Briley’s plan to sell off the city’s parking meters, Swain tweeted, “We forced the Metro Council to pull the bad parking meter plan. But given the chance, they’ll bring it back. When I’m mayor, it’s dead on arrival!”
We forced the Metro Council to pull the bad parking meter plan. But given the chance, they'll bring it back. When I'm mayor, it's dead on arrival!https://t.co/aaUbqiyErF pic.twitter.com/2UAbv8XQI8
— Carol M Swain For Nashville (@CarolSwain4Nash) June 15, 2019
Swain is an award-winning political scientist and former professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt and Princeton Universities, she said in a press release. She has served on the Tennessee Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
