Tennessee Records Highest Property Tax Increases in United States

The Beacon Center of Tennessee reported on August 14 that Tennessee experienced the largest property tax increase in the United States over the last six years. The conservative think tank found that Tennessee was the only state to see increases exceeding 75%, maintaining a double-digit lead over Colorado.

Local governments attribute the rising costs to rapid population growth and the increased expense of providing police, EMS, and infrastructure services. In Mt. Juliet, city commissioners raised the property tax rate from 11 cents to 28 cents per $100 of assessed value over two years, representing a roughly 155% increase.

Former Mt. Juliet commissioner Ray Justice criticized these spikes as the result of government incompetence and overspending. The Beacon Center of Tennessee is renewing calls for a statewide property tax cap, noting that Tennessee is one of only four states without such a limitation. A similar proposal was introduced in the Tennessee Statehouse last year but failed to reach a vote.