Lenoir City approves first property tax cut since 2016

LENOIR CITY, Tenn. (WATE) — While the Loudon County Commission recently voted to increase property tax to fund new school projects , Lenoir City leaders opted to go in the opposite direction.

The Lenoir City Council this week unanimously approved a proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year that included a 5% decrease in property taxes. The budget also includes a 3.5% raise for all city employees

It is the first year since 2016 that the city has cut property taxes.

On Monday, the Loudon County Commission voted 6-4 to increase the combined property tax rate outside the city limits of Lenoir City to $1.7683, an increase of 25 cents per $100 of assessed property value. The move would fund several projects in Loudon County Schools, including plans to construct a new school.

Lenoir City Mayor Tony Aikens told 6 News that the move is an example of responsible governance and criticized the county commission’s decision to raise property taxes.

“Lenoir City government is trying to watch out for your tax dollars and we had a reduction in property tax while we continue to have and deliver services to the citizens of Lenoir City,” Aikens said. “Unfortunately, Loudon County chooses not to do that. They had a quarter-cent tax hike recently on county taxes to build a new high school on the upper end of the county which is not needed.”

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