Lexington residents voice concerns over property tax increase
LEXINGTON, Tenn. — Monday night residents of Lexington crowded into a meeting room at the Lexington Municipal Building to hear the results from the city council’s first reading of a property tax increase that could see taxes raised more than as 70%.
During the meeting, city councilmen proposed ideas of budget cuts from various departments in an attempt to lower the tax increase to a lower number such as 40%.
Then, after defense of that suggestion from various department heads, conversation was extended to the idea of budget cuts in recurring expenses such as employee salaries.
Residents of Lexington spoke at the meeting voicing their concerns over such a large increase in the span of one year.
Many suggested an incremental tax increase over time to reach the 74% mark.
However, others wanted no tax rate increase at all, saying that times were tough already and that an increase of any kind could be detrimental to the finances of the average resident in Lexington.
Another resident was quoted saying, “We are a small town with large town tax rates, why do we still have small town amenities?”
“They need to find cuts. Mr. Ellis done a great job. Each one of them needs to do the same thing. We all have to live within a budget. This group needs to learn to live within a budget,” said Jemma Cooper, another resident attending the meeting.
“We’ve got about two weeks to go before we vote again and hopefully we can keep working on this budget and get it down to where everybody will be happy,” said Mayor Jeff Griggs.
No decision was made at Monday’s meeting.
However, Henderson County’s commissioners passed their budget without any tax increase at all.
The next budget meeting for the city of Lexington will be June 24.
SEE ALSO:
