NASHVILLE, Tenn.- After several hours of public comment Metro Council members voted to approve the Mayor's proposed property tax hike on its second reading.
Council members were forced to approve the measure because, according to officials, no alternatives have been brought forward. The Council has until June 19th to makes changes to the proposal.
Before the final decision was made taxpayers both for and against the proposed increase attended the Metro Council meeting to give leaders a piece of their mind. The crowd was divided by color as supports of the Mayor's plan wore blue to the meeting, and those against wore yellow.
The public comment part of the meeting about the possible 53-cent property tax hike began around 6 p.m. and last est until just after 10 p.m.
Mayor Dean did not attend the meeting but gave his opinion earlier in the day.
"The property tax relief program will actually allow many of them to be paying fewer taxes if my budget is passed, than they were before," said Mayor Dean.
Dean said there are 6,400 people in Metro that tax increase can help, and that's why he's added the additional money in his budget. Dean is pushing for a 53-cent tax increase to raise a hundred million dollars. The money would go to improve schools, beef up the police department, and even fix roads.
"I think there is a widespread belief that this budget is pragmatic and it deals with services that matter to people that they feel and use every day," said Dean.
