NASHVILLE (AP) — Officials in Tennessee's capital city have approved a tax hike that will increase funding for police and schools.
Nashville council members voted 32-8 after a lengthy debate that last until early Wednesday to approve a spending plan that includes a 34% tax hike, The Tennessean reported.
The spending plan will give cost-of-living increases to city employees, add $7.6 million for the school district and $4.9 million so that minimum wage for district employees will increase to $15 per hour.
It also included a $2.6 million increase for police, which the department says is needed to hire 48 recruits. The addition of that funding came despite some council members and community advocates rallying for reduced funding.
The new budget will go into effect on July 1 and will increase Davidson County's property tax rate by $1.066 per $100 of assessed value.
The new tax rate is the largest jump in Metro's history, but it remains the lowest tax rate among Tennessee's largest cities and counties, the newspaper reported.