Montgomery County considers property tax increase

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Cities and counties across Middle Tennessee are looking for ways to pay for the costs associated with growth.

The Montgomery County Budget Committee has proposed a 35-cent property tax increase on top of the county’s certified tax rate.

On Tuesday, the Budget Committee presented their FY 2025 budget to county commissioners, which included a proposed tax rate of $2.18 per $100 of a property’s assessed value. That’s 35 cents more than the certified tax rate from the State of Tennessee Board of Equalization, which set a revenue-neutral amount of $1.83 per $100 for Montgomery County.

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“If you’re planning appropriately, the growth can take care of itself,” Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden said. “But inflation absolutely does not.”

Golden said that inflation is especially hitting the county’s wallet as leaders work to build for the area’s growth.

“[The cost of] concrete has gone up by 100 percent over the last five years…every project we do pretty much has concrete in it,” Golden said. “When inflation goes up, you have to pay your employees more.”

To keep up, Golden said that he hopes county commissioners will support the tax increase, which would amount to roughly $25 more per month for the average Montgomery County homeowner.

“We’re responsible for education as well as our court system, jail, sheriff’s office, all of those types of things,” Golden said. “When we’re responsible for a school system with 40,000 kids, it’s a lot of salaries and we want to make sure we’re taking care of those school teachers.”

Hendersonville recently passed a sales tax increase. The Gallatin City Council is also considering one.

“Our options are sales tax or property tax,” Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown told News 2.

If Montgomery County’s budget passes as is, Clarksville residents could see two property tax increases. Just two weeks ago, Clarksville City Council also passed a 14-cent property tax increase.

Golden said that raising taxes isn’t something he takes lightly, but right now, he believes it’s necessary.

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“It’s always hard anytime you’re talking about any kind of increase. We all feel it. We all experience it and it’s something that we all lose sleep over.,” Golden said. “What we want to do is put the right things in place for the citizens of Montgomery County.”

On July 15, residents will have a chance to weigh in on the budget at a public hearing. That hearing will take place at 5 p.m. and be followed by a special voting session at 6 p.m.

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