AFP-TN Turns in 20,000 Signatures: Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act Heads to Ballot

Aug 25, 2020 by AFP

NASHVILLE, TN – Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee (AFP-TN) today announced the group and concerned citizens will turn roughly 20,000 signatures to the Metro Clerk’s office on Wednesday in support of the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act. The group helped gather the requisite number of signatures for the initiative to be placed on the December 5^th ballot.

The Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act would roll back Mayor Cooper’s 34-37% tax increase and limit property tax rate increases to 2% every year without approval by a vote of the people.

The grassroots group contacted over 38,000 Tennesseans through canvassing, texting, and phone calls.

AFP-TN State Director Tori Venable issued the following statement:

“Punishing Nashville families with a massive property tax hike won’t solve the underlying issues that created this budget crisis; it is especially unfair given that businesses have been forced to close and many people are out of work. A property tax increase does not solve the underlying issues that put Nashville on the path to bankruptcy: cronyism, excess debt, and out of control spending.

“The Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act is the best way to address the root causes of our budget crisis, ensure voters have a say in how their tax dollars are being spent, and force lawmakers to live within their means – as every Nashville family is forced to do. We look forward to helping Nashvillians turn out the vote on December 5^th to protect their tax dollars and prevent further reckless spending.”

The group will turn the signatures in to the Metro Clerk at 2:30 PM CST. All media are invited to attend. Contact Kevin Brinegar at kbrinegar@afphq.org to RSVP.

Background:

The Beacon Center examined Nashville’s budget in its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and found: “Every year since 2007, Nashville’s finances have weakened, with its Net Position becoming negative for the first time in 2018, well before the tornado or COVID-19 shutdown.”

Even Mayor Cooper admitted in a questionnaire during his campaign that Nashville needs more fiscal responsibility, saying: “A properly managed city should be able to thrive with a 4.5 percent revenue increase. Metro needs a return to fiscal stewardship. I don’t feel good about asking taxpayers to pay more in taxes when we aren’t properly managing the money we already have.”