Town of Nolensville manager outlines 5‑year budget, proposes raise in municipal tax rate to fund public safety and road projects

Town Manager Victor Lay told residents at a Town of Nolensville budget Q&A that the administration is recommending a municipal property tax increase to about 55¢ per $100 of assessed value to fund a five‑year plan focused on public safety hires and road and capital projects.

The presentation said Nolensvillecurrently has a municipal tax rate of 29¢. Because county appraisals rose this year, Lay said, the certified rate that would hold revenue flat is about 18.92¢, and the administrationis proposing a higher 55¢ rate to capture additional revenue for staffing and projects. "We were recommending a tax rate of about 55¢," Lay said during the presentation.

Lay outlined staffing requests that would be phased into the plan: three additional full‑time firefighters, three additional full‑time police officers, one IT position and one public‑works position; a construction‑inspection position would be funded largely by related inspection fees. The presentation said roughly 56% of the coming yearbudget is earmarked for public safety (police and fire), 12% for planning/engineering/codes, 21% for administration and 10% for public works.

Why the tax increase now: Lay said the townexpects the proposed rate would support hiring, raise operating capacity and create cash to advance capital projects sooner than pay‑as‑you‑go funding would allow. He said putting the tax in place now could produce roughly $5 million to $7 million in cash over five years that could be used for right‑of‑way purchases and initial construction for projects such as the Rocky Fork Road…