Raising taxes in Sequatchie and Catoosa County

Sequatchie County approved hike Monday, Catoosa Schools could approve hike tonight

UPDATE:

Property taxes may be increasing in the city of Ringgold soon, in addition to the county. City officials proposed a property tax increase of 5.02%, they announced on Tuesday.

A home with a market value of $150,000 would see a tax increase of about $5.92. A non-homestead property of the same price would see an increase of about $8.88.

Ringgold will hold several public hearings on the matter at their City Hall on 150 Tennessee Street.

The first hearing will be Monday, August 7. One hearing will begin at 11 a.m. and another will begin at 5:30 p.m.

The city will hold a final public hearing on Tuesday, August 14, at 7 p.m.

City officials will set the property tax rate after the last hearing.

ORIGINAL POST:

DUNLAP, Tenn. (WDEF) – Sequatchie County leaders have voted to raise taxes, while Catoosa County’s school board may do the same Tuesday night.

The Sequatchie County Commission approved a $0.28 property tax hike Monday night (that’s about $280 hike for a $100,000 home)

The vote was 15-2.

Commissioners who backed the new tax rate blamed rising costs for their departments and keeping up with inflation for their employees.

Meanwhile, the Catoosa County School Board will vote on a proposed property tax hike for their community.

In Georgia, both the county commission and the school board can raise their share of county taxes.

The board is considering an 18.65% tax increase (about a $100 rate increase for a $100,000 home).

Catoosa County is holding two public hearings Tuesday to listen to resident input, one at 11 a.m. and the other before they vote tonight at 6 p.m.

If approved, the county commission could lower their tax rate to offset the school tax hike.  But there is no guarantee that will happen.