In the fast pace of life and politics, it is easy to lose sight and importance of being vigilant at the local level in light of the endless national news cycle. Whether you have been captivated by the House budget vote coming to its conclusion this morning, or the long gripping Phoenix Solutions trial in Nashville, let us not miss that we are currently under a budget process at our local level. I applaud the efforts of our local school board to pass a balanced budget request to the County Commission, and I give a nod to Hamilton County general government to work within their means during this cycle.
As a past Hamilton County GOP chairman, I speak for many when I say we believe in low taxes, while being a good steward of taxpayer money.
While the TFP may feel this story was not as important to receive the same flair in creation making as others pushed across our community, the city of Red Bank has raised your taxes once again.
One could pass, that death and taxes are now the constant in the municipality which I call home. In business, we always say if you have a loser, lose it fast, and the current leadership of the city of Red Bank seems to fit that bill.
In Red Bank, if you run up deficits in your budget by giving high raises to friends, you rob the rainy day fund. When that is no longer enough, you increase the taxes on those who chose to call Red Bank home and “capture the upside”.
In the 2022 budget, Red Bank taxes were increased 11 percent to cover shortfalls. When that was not enough for a majority of the commission, Red Bank taxes were increased another 52 percent during the 2023 budget.
Now, since this too was not enough to fund the big spending of a failed city leadership, our taxes are increasing again. I find it comical the only year the homeowners of Red Bank were spared a tax increase was during a city election year.
More of your money is being taken from you to fill this failed leadership's financial black hole. Your tax dollars matter. All politics are local, and in Red Bank, you are taken for granted.
Arch E. Trimble IV
* * *
For anyone who wants to understand where Red Bank’s tax burden truly stands, I’d like to offer something better than political soundbites and partisan takes. Last fall, I worked to produce a public analysis of Red Bank’s property tax history, updated through 2023. That report is available below to anyone who wants a clear, data-based look at how our taxes compare over time and across Hamilton County.
The analysis tracks both the inflation-adjusted tax rate and the actual burden on households as a percentage of income. It shows that the inflation-adjusted tax rate in Red Bank has steadily declined for decades. Even with recent increases, 2023’s rate remains below many years in the 2000s and early 2010s. When we account for income growth, the average household is not paying more of its income in property taxes than it did in years past.
It also puts Red Bank in context. I compared our city with others in Hamilton County that have similar populations. Cities like East Ridge, Collegedale, and Soddy Daisy often have lower tax rates, but they also have major retailers like Walmart contributing millions in sales tax revenue. Red Bank does not. In fact, we collect 52 percent less sales tax than those cities on average. Without a large commercial tax base, our city relies more on residential property taxes to fund services that residents expect.
The idea that this amounts to reckless leadership or financial collapse just does not match the facts. Budget documents are public. Tax decisions are made in open meetings. While legitimate criticism can and should be part of civic life - I’ve offered my own at times - it should start with the truth. This particular critique does not.
If you are a resident, a business owner, or just someone who wants to understand how Red Bank's tax levy compares to surrounding municipalities, I encourage you to read the full analysis. It was created to help people cut through noise and get the full picture. Not just numbers, but context.
Let’s keep debating. Let’s keep asking questions. But let’s also keep the conversation grounded in reality.
Drake Pertuit
* * *
In response to both Mr. Trimble and Mr. Pertuit's recent opinion pieces regarding the proposed property tax rate increase in Red Bank, I would like to thank Mr. Trimble for bringing this unnecessary and greedy increase to the attention of Red Bank property owners and citizens and to state my agreement with him that the recent property tax rate increases have been too frequent and too extreme.
Mr. Pertuit, I searched for your data analysis online but was unable to find it so I cannot comment on whether or not I concur with its conclusion(s). However, I do not agree with you that property tax rates in East Ridge, Collegedale and Soddy Daisy should have bearing on the property tax rates in Red Bank. I don't live in, work in or own property in any of those communities and I do not pay them any taxes. I do pay Red Bank property taxes on two pieces of property and have found the recent tax rate increases to be excessive and burdensome. I also do not agree that inflation-adjusted figures matter; the property owners in Red Bank are paying additional funds from their pockets while not really receiving any more services from those taxes.
When businesses pay for increases in services or products, they expect better services or improved products; homeowners/property owners are entitled to the same expectations.
I understand from the Chattanoogan.com article regarding the tax rate increase that Red Bank commissioners approved, a 5 percent tax rate hike, but also plan to implement the certified tax rate when that rate is provided by the county. The intent of the certified tax rate is to prevent municipalities from reaping a windfall from tax revenues during a reassessment year --- so is the Red Bank commission ignoring this provision in state law or is it simply again attempting to squeeze Red Bank property owners for more money simply because we are collectively regarded as a huge cash cow?
Tim McDonald