Proposed tax increase exactly what was feared
After meeting last week, the Budget and Finance Committee has recommended an 11-cent property tax increase to address the county’s current financial needs.
It’s a proposal which immediately drew criticism from County Executive Kenneth Rogers and it’s one state lawmakers were apprehensive about during Gov. Phil Bredesen’s across-the-board budget cuts.
Our own state Sen. Jerry Cooper was especially vocal about the impact state budget cuts could have on the local level. Cooper continually said he saw no reason for the state to slash its spending if it forced local governments across Tennessee to implement tax increases to make ends meet.
It didn’t take long for Cooper’s logic to hit close to home. Even though county governments didn’t end up losing a tremendous amount of state funding, they are by no means swimming in money. And there will be some difficult choices to be made by the time the county budget passes – especially considering Rogers will veto any tax increase.
And that is likely a good thing considering the recent mood in Tennessee has been to: 1) cut taxes, 2) cut taxes and 3) cut taxes some more. Since that is the overwhelming sentiment, our county officials should do their best to listen to the will of the people.
As Rogers put it, “That’s what I ran on, that I would try to watch over the taxpayers’ money as if it was mine, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
With the county already engulfed in stormy economic times, there is more inclement weather ahead. A.O. Smith is expected to begin the first of its 300 layoffs later this week, and we can only cross our fingers and hope for the best when it comes to our much-needed Carrier plant.
It is sufficient to say this is not the time for a local tax increase and we’re thankful for state budget cuts as well.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t make matters easier for our county commissioners who are undoubtedly faced with tough choices. The need for tax dollars never diminishes, yet the call to use tax dollars wisely is as loud as it’s ever been.
The Budget and Finance Committee’s quandary is easy to understand. If the county’s fund balance is examined like a bank account, Warren County is gradually losing money each year. And like a bank account, if disaster strikes, the county will need that money.
That said, now is not the time to stock up our reserves. We understand money is tight – and an 11-cent tax increase would go a long way toward fortifying the county’s checkbook – but now is not the time to raise taxes. We need to find a way to make ends meet under our current tax structure.