Cheatham County budget hearing: proposed 5.67¢ tax increase draws questions on school spending, assessments and vacant lots

The Cheatham County Commission opened a public hearing on the fiscal 2026–27 proposed budget, which county officials say would require a 5.67-cent increase to the current $1.75 property tax rate, bringing it to about $1.81 per $100 of assessed value. The increase, which the mayor presented to the commission, would take effect July 1 if adopted.

The mayor said the additional revenue would cover employee step raises (roughly 2%), longevity bonuses and higher state retirement costs, and provide a 0.8% cost-of-living increase so employees would receive about a 2.8% total pay increase. He told commissioners that 0.45 cents of the proposed rate would fund an elected-official pay adjustment approved in December 2024; 2.09 cents are allocated to "uncontrollable accounts," 0.7 cents to solid-waste costs and 0.64 cents to other spending categories. To reach the net 5.67-cent change, the proposal also reflects a one-cent reduction in the vehicle fund.

Using county figures presented at the hearing, the mayor said the increase would raise taxes on an average Cheatham County home (appraised at $419,000) by about $59 a year; a $250,000 appraisal would see an increase of about $35 a year, and a $600,000 appraisal about $85 a year.

The mayor also reviewed the school budget and education debt requests. He said the school system submitted a budget of $58,412,271.98; the county budget committee had recommended against the submission because it relied on nearly $3 million of the district’s reported $12,355,000 fund balance. The school board later reduced planned use of the fund balance to $1,446,811.36. The mayor said the education debt requests — including $4.4 million for a maintenance-technology facility, $500,000 for a trades building at Harpeth High School and $250,000 for security upgrades — would not require additional property-tax increases beyond the proposed county rate change.

Following the presentation, the commission opened a public comment period. Speakers spoke for three minutes each and raised a range of concerns:

- An unnamed commenter accused local officials and institutions of corruption and alleged intimidation by the sheriff’s department. "I don't think any of y'all need a raise," the speaker said, urging officials to take pay cuts instead of raising taxes. The claim was not supported by additional evidence in the hearing record and drew no recorded official response.

- Another resident questioned assessment fairness after comparing a $7.5 million parcel taxed about $14,000 a year to a $299,000 parcel taxed about $1,400, saying the system "ain't right" and urging a new approach to assessments.

- Kenny Wallace of District 4 asked the commission to consider tax relief measures targeting seniors, saying rising property taxes are increasingly burdensome for retired residents.

- Paula Brinkley of District 4 described a successful tax appeal that reduced her assessed value from $446,000 to $134,000 but said she nonetheless experienced an $800 tax increase and urged the county to pursue revenue-generating amenities — such as a bowling alley or movie theater — rather than further property-tax hikes.

- Amanda Bales, a District 4 business owner, told commissioners she found 4,579 vacant lots in county tax records and said many are in approved subdivisions but sit on non-county-maintained roads, which prevents owners from building. "We are sitting on money instead of devaluing people's property by not letting them build on it," Bales said, urging policy changes to allow more development and generate tax revenue.

- Kyle Graham, a lifelong District 4 resident, criticized the school district's spending and transparency, saying enrollment is down while the district’s budget has grown. He questioned a $5 million bus-depot expense and cited what he described as repeated comptroller findings of deficiencies. Graham also alleged the district has "covered for sexual predators," naming Cheatham Middle School in his remarks; audience members applauded. The transcript records these allegations as claims made during public comment; the hearing record does not include responses from school officials or subsequent verification.

The public hearing closed at 5:23 p.m. The county commission will consider the proposed budget at its upcoming meeting, where the formal vote to adopt, modify or reject the proposal is expected to occur.