Montgomery Co. Commissioners approve property tax increase, budget cuts in new fiscal year

During a special meeting, the Montgomery County Commission approved the 2024- 25 budget and set the property tax rate to $2.10, a 27-cent increase, slightly less than the initial 35-cent increase previously proposed.

Following several discussions and votes on budget cuts from commissioners, the property tax was set at $2.10 after a few million of proposed spending for this year's budget was cut.

County budget cuts affect property tax rate

On June 21, the Montgomery County Budget Committee met and made almost $30 million in budget cuts and proposed a property tax rate of $2.18, a 35-cent increase from the previous year at $1.83.

“One of our greatest challenges is that inflation for materials has increased by 22.88% since 2019," said Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden. "The Budget Committee spent many hours listening to presentations from every elected office and department. Our focus remains on education, infrastructure, and public safety and that is what we’ve done with this budget."

Following comments from Montgomery County residents at a special meeting on July 15, the Montgomery County Commissioners voted to omit or postpone funding for several key projects in this year's budget to lessen the impact of a property tax increase.

Commissioner John Gannon proposed to cut $700,000 for the Evoke Public Service Training Center, the $2 million Palmyra salt shed and $1 million in the land acquisition fund.

"That $700,000 is just a drawing, and I think we could find one cheaper," Gannon said. "I think we could drive out to Palmyra for another year and see what the prices come to after that. On the land purchasing part, we've got money in that bucket."

Commissioner Rashidah Leverett proposed to cut the juvenile detention center funding by $500,000, which passed with a 17 to 4 vote.

"I do want to point out some good things we are investing with this year's budget," Commissioner Joshua Beal said before proposing a budget cut to avoid the tax increase. "We have heard you on the roads and traffic. We're funding 60% more for the Highway Department than we have in the past."

Beal then proposed a pause on the $2 million renovation of the Assessor of Property office in Veterans Plaza and the $1.7 million Rotary Park Sidewalks and Parking projects.

“Adding any burden to our residents is not something anyone wants to do, but we are not making good headway in paying down our debt at our current rate," said Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden in a press release. "To be good stewards of tax revenue, we need to pay more than we owe, which requires making changes to the budget."

Commissioner David Harper proposed a $650,000 cut for phase two construction for Fredonia and $750,000 for the Greenway funds, which passed.

"As the Commissioner for Fredonia area, I want to say that I've talked to a lot of constituents, and they are okay with cutting this," Commissioner Joe Smith said. "Even though we've been promised this for several years, and it was something close to happening this year due to inflation, they're okay with it."

"I will also vote the way a majority of my constituents ask me to," said Commissioner Gannon following public comment. "And they think 19.5% (increase) is too bit high, so I'll be voting no on the budget."

After millions in budget cuts, the property tax rate was set at $2.10 by a vote of 11 to 10, an increase from the previous $1.83 tax rate.

Kenya Anderson is a reporter for The Leaf-Chronicle.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Montgomery Co. Commissioners approve property tax increase, budget cuts in new fiscal year