Mayor Dean proposes tax increase, 53-cents

Mayor Karl Dean has proposed raising the property tax by 53 cents to fund his proposed $1.71 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year. That increase would raise the tax rate to $4.66 per $100 of assessed value and would generate approximately $100 million. Dean said the average homeowner would pay about $200 a year more in property taxes.

Below were live tweets from Nashville's esteemed press corp as they happened .



The mayor is delivering his State of Metro address. 

John Dunn ‏ @WZTVJohnDunn tweets, "Mayor is proposing to raise starting salary for Metro school teachers to $40,000 (currently 35k)."

 Michael Cass ‏ @tnmetro tweets, "Dean says city has faced some of most difficult possible economic and natural circumstances but is growing #stateofmetro"

Joey Garrison ‏ @joeygarrison tweets, "Dean cites budgetary challenges. The Great Recession, the May 2010 flood."

 Joey Garrison ‏ @joeygarrison: Dean says it's no secret he's using this speech to discuss budget. He says it's a choice between keeping city strong or falling backwards

  
Michael Cass ‏ @tnmetro: "If the recession wasn't enough," city had to recover from $2B in flood damage, mayor says #stateofmetro"

Joey Garrison ‏ @joeygarrison  "Due to "extraordinary circumstances," Dean points out Metro's budget has decreased by $59.2M since he took office."

MIchael Cass: "Dean says city chose not to raise taxes when hurting in 2010, "but we weren't in the clear yet" #stateofmetro "

Joey Garrison ‏ @joeygarrison "We are a more efficient, more streamlined government than we were in 2007," Dean says.

Joey Garrison ‏ @joeygarrison
Though he hasn't gotten to this in speech, Dean's budget would almost fully-fund schools, coming $2.5M short of Register's $49.8M request.

Michael Cass ‏ @tnmetro

Dean says water has been biggest capital investment by city #stateofmetro

WZTVJohnDunn:  Mayor: City has collected $11.4 million more than expected to build Music City Center from tourism taxes. #stateofmetro

Michael Cass ‏ @tnmetro
 Now talking up changes to schools, like Teach for America, free afterschool program for at-risk students, attendance ctr. #stateofmetro

 Joey Garrison ‏ @joeygarrison: Dean's capital spending plan includes the long-awaited new gym at Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet HS and $20M for Stratford HS upgrades.

 Joey Garrison ‏ @joeygarrison Dean says the tax increase allows Metro to "invest in our kids."

Joey Garrison ‏ @joeygarrison 

Dean says the tax hike will allow Metro to invest in its employees: 95% of employees will get a 4 percent pay increase.

Michael Cass ‏ @tnmetro: Budget calls for 4% across-the-board pay raise for all city workers except those in senior mgmt., who would get 2% #stateofmetro

  

Michael Cass ‏ @tnmetro: Tax increase will allow city to keep 50 police officers it hired with federal COPS grant, operate DNA crime lab #stateofmetro

Michael Cass ‏ @tnmetro:Tax increase would pay for 2 new positions handling domestic violence cases in DA's office #stateofmetro 

 Michael Cass ‏ @tnmetro :"I refuse to be the mayor who turns back the clock on public safety and education." Asks CMs for their help. #stateofmetro

 Michael Cass ‏ @tnmetro :Dean quoting Gretzy again: "You have to skate where the puck is going to go, not where it's been." #stateofmetro

  Michael Cass ‏ @tnmetro: Hockey quote alert: Wayne Gretzky: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." #stateofmetro

Michael Cass ‏ @tnmetro: Speech over after about 49 minutes #stateofmetro