Hamilton County adopts record low certified tax rate amid skyrocketing home prices

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A new certified tax rate has been passed for Hamilton County amid record home prices.

The approved rate is $1.51 per 100 dollars assessed.

Assessor of Property Marty Haynes says this is the lowest rate since World War II as housing prices skyrocketed 60 percent.

Even as the Commission voted unanimously to approve the new rate, some still question if the impact of the hikes is being felt evenly across the county, leading to Commissioner Warren Mackey suggesting a study be conducted on which areas got hit hardest by property value spikes.

Residents like Andrew Hixson say they are frustrated with this process.

“You can look at taxes across the board. When you increase or decrease taxes, one of two things happen. People spend less money or people spend more money. Also, I would challenge anyone that comes up to this microphone to give just honest answers because there are people watching up here on Youtube and everything else, so the political non-answers? They’re crazy and they happen a lot up here,” said Hixson.

Haynes says his office would look into Mackey’s request for a new study after they finish reassessment requests.