by Marcus Washington
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Many homeowners are trying to budget their expenses as they gear up for the effects of the 53-cent property tax increase, but homeowners aren't the only ones feeling this hike.
Renters, many on fixed incomes, will have to deal with the burden their landlords will eventually pass down to tenants.
When you think of a property tax increase, homeowners are probably the first group you think will be affected; but the group that may hurt the most includes people like James Eubanks, David Oglesby and Regina Beck.
They are all on fixed incomes and the little extra they are able to save each month could soon go towards a rent increase.
"Anybody that is in a lease, the landlord has to honor that lease, but when that lease comes due; most landlords like me are going to try to pass the tax increase on to the tenant," said Bruce McNeilage, owner of The Park at Five Points.
He says it's not something he wants to do, but with the 53-cent property tax increase passed by metro council on Tuesday; the increase is something his tenants will have to pay.
"If I get put out where are my kids going to be? Where am I going to stay? You are making it harder for me to budget what I have to budget now," said renter Eubanks.
Mayor Karl Deans says an increase is not what his administration wanted to do, but it had to happen for the county to move forward.
He says his administration's philosophy has been, "we've made cuts, but we are investing."
"We've made cuts, we've reduced government dramatically by reducing the budgets by $5.2 million, but we continued to invest in things that matter to the folks in Nashville and what matter in having a healthy city over the long term; which is public safety and public education," said Dean.
"They got money to build those big buildings. They have people financing that. That's where the money needs to come from for education," said renter Beck.
Reality is still setting in for Regina, James and David who say they will have to work harder to keep up with the county's growth and rising costs.
A new budget including the tax hike passed last night with the metro council members voting 38 to eight.
