LACIE SILVA
Editor
Howard and Kathy Chance addressed the South Pittsburg Mayor and Commissioner board during a meeting, expressing their frustration over rising property taxes, which have forced them to consider selling their home.
Kathy, speaking on behalf of the couple, emphasized the financial strain they are under as retirees on a fixed income, explaining that they often struggle to afford basic necessities like meat. She criticized the city’s priorities, pointing out that while the city is focused on improving the marquee sign, residents like her are leaving because they can no longer afford to live in town. Kathy also voiced her frustration over a 40-year-old unresolved issue of a neglected property next to their home, questioning why the city hasn’t enforced a condemning or nuisance law. She expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of consequences for property owners who neglect their taxes or fail to maintain their properties, while others continue to pay taxes without adequate representation.
Several other citizens joined in, voicing similar concerns and seeking clarity on how their tax dollars are being reinvested for the town’s benefit. They cited the sudden and steep tax increase, which they felt was too drastic to happen in a single year rather than being spread out over time. One resident raised concerns about services, noting that while residents were forced to purchase trash cans for an electronic trash collection system, the promised automated trucks never materialized. The resident emphasized that the trucks still require manual labor to collect trash and that nothing is picked up outside the bins. They also expressed frustration with the city’s lack of enforcement regarding ordinances that are supposed to prevent property depreciation.
The group expressed their belief that, with the 135.52% property tax increase, the city commission and the incoming board need to find ways to reinvest those funds into the community. One resident, who had reviewed the town’s budget, pointed out that tax increases elsewhere caused similar shocks due to reassessments, but few areas experienced a triple-digit increase like South Pittsburg.
In response, Vice Mayor Stone addressed the concerns about trash collection, explaining that the services had been revamped, but code enforcement remained complaint-driven. He acknowledged that some issues were still unresolved, including flooding near Kathy’s property, despite efforts to improve the situation. Kathy added that more should be done to enforce penalties for neglected yards and dilapidated buildings. Vice Mayor Stone suggested holding a workshop to gather feedback on what is and isn’t working in the community, pointing out that surrounding counties had adopted similar approaches to avoid litigation over harassment claims.
Other residents supported the need for more community involvement, mentioning that many couldn’t attend the meeting because of work, illness, or disability. Chief Jordan interjected, highlighting that new businesses are coming to town, which would bring revenue, but citizens responded by questioning how that would directly help them.
Commissioner Buchanan defended the board’s decision to raise taxes, while Mayor Rector explained the difficult choices the board had faced. She stressed that rising costs due to inflation had left the city with little choice but to increase taxes to cover necessary maintenance, services, and infrastructure projects. Mayor Rector also addressed the lack of community attendance at previous meetings, which made it harder for the board to gauge public opinion when making decisions. She explained that in 2020, the property tax rate had been 99 cents, but after the 2021 reassessment, it was reduced to 0.739 to support residents during the COVID pandemic. The decision not to raise taxes earlier had led to the significant increase now, which was necessary to avoid even steeper hikes that would have been imposed by the state.
Several resources for property tax relief were available at the meeting, including applications for the 2024 Tennessee Property Tax Relief Program, which assists elderly, disabled, and veteran homeowners. Residents who meet the eligibility criteria were encouraged to apply through their local county trustee or city officials. The deadline for applications is 35 days after the delinquency date, and additional information could be found online or by contacting local tax offices.
