NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
A Metro Nashville Councilman is working an alternative budget for the city that would not require a 53-cent property tax increase for the Urban Services District.
District 25 Metro Council member Sean McGuire is chairman of the council's budget and finance committee.
He wants to submit an alternative Metro budget for 2012-2013, with a smaller tax hike, before the council makes a final vote on the mayor's spending plan.
"The council is going to be looking to lessen the burden on the tax payer as much as possible," he said. "Everything is on the table absolutely everything. No department is exempt."
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean proposed a property tax increase as part of his $1.7 billion 2012-2013 budget.
For a homeowner who owns a house worth the median amount of around $142,000, it is a $192 a year increase.
"I can't say we haven't cut every bit of the fat out of the budget," Mayor Dean said. "But, to make significant cuts this year would mean cutting into muscle."
The mayor wants to use the increased revenue from the property tax increase to increase the starting pay for Metro-Nashville school teachers to $40,000. He has also proposed several capital projects to improve Metro Nashville schools.
The tax increase would also pay for the completion and staffing of Nashville's DNA crime lab.
"It is not a decision I made lightly," the mayor said. "It is not a decision I made looking only one year down the road. I was looking ahead to where we want our city to be 10 to 20 years from now."
During a work session, McGuire worked with the Budget and Finance Committee council members to identify various line items in the budget they wanted to see eliminated.
For example, one member suggested eliminating the council travel budget for a savings of $80,000.
Another suggestion was to reduce the amount of increased funding to Metro-Nashville schools.
The proposal does not cut funding to the schools, just the amount of increased funding.
The proposal as listed on the workshop worksheet would reduce the proposed increase by one-third or $15.5 million.
McGuire said he plans to file his budget proposal on Friday. Monday the Budget and Finance committee is scheduled to meet and discuss the proposal.
"We have some obligations that need to be met," he said, "like increasing debt service to the tune of $36 million."
Tuesday McGuire and the mayor's plan are set to be discussed at the Council meeting.
The mayor's budget will be up for its third and final vote.
If passed, the 2012-2013 budget will take effect July 1.
The council meeting is Tuesday at 6:30 PM in the David Scobey Council Chamber at City Hall.
