Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Tax Rate topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Franklin aldermen approve 29.6¢ tax rate after extended debate
Summary
After hours of debate about infrastructure funding and state partnership uncertainty, the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a municipal property tax rate of 0.296 (29.6 cents) following multiple amendments and procedural votes.
Aldermen in Franklin on a June meeting approved a municipal property tax rate of 0.296 (29.6 cents) after a prolonged, sometimes contentious discussion over how much to raise revenue for capital projects and whether to reserve funds for state-partnered road work.
The vote on ordinance 2025-14, as amended, passed 5–2. Aldermen Barnhill, Caesar, Burger, Vice Mayor Potts and Alderman Baggett voted yes. Aldermen Blanton and Peterson voted no.
The discussion centered on whether to set the rate at the city administrator’s recommended 0.32 or to reduce it because of uncertainty about a 50/50 state partnership for the Northwest MacHatcher project. "I still don't have complete clarity on if that money is gonna do what we think it's going to do," said Alderman Baggett, urging a lower rate so the city can present a concrete, prioritized project list to residents. Alderman Burger echoed that concern, saying many constituents preferred the lower option.
City budget officer Michael Walters Young told the board how much the difference would mean to the city budget: "Roughly $3,400,000 a year," he said, explaining that each penny of the property tax generates about $1.05 million after reappraisal and that a 3.4¢ difference amounts to roughly $3.57 million annually.
Supporters of the higher rate argued the larger revenue stream would let the city fund a larger set of capital projects and strengthen its position when negotiating with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). The mayor's office and several aldermen said they were concerned that without additional capacity, the city would have less leverage in statewide funding partnerships and fewer immediate options to address traffic and infrastructure needs.
Board members debated process as well as policy. At multiple points the council amended and reconsidered motions, and staff reminded the body that state notice requirements apply if the rate would exceed the city’s published “revised” rate. After several amendments and votes the motion to set the rate at 0.296 carried.
Action summary: ordinance 2025-14 (municipal property tax rate) was approved as amended to 0.296. The board also discussed that the rate can be revisited at future meetings if members decide to change it.
Ending: With the rate adopted, elected members said they will continue work over the summer to refine capital priorities, continue outreach with TDOT about the MacHatcher projects, and follow up on related budget decisions at scheduled July meetings.
