Watson’s property tax referendum bill pulled for the year

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF)- A proposed bill by a Hamilton County lawmaker that would affect property tax increases in Tennessee has been pulled for the year.

Senator Bo Watson had proposed that any local government who wanted to pass a property tax increase would have to gain approval from voters in a referendum.

He said this was in response to the city of Chattanooga’s tax increase last year.

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly had spoken out against the bill, saying it would make the ability of local governments to keep up with inflation impossible.

However, Senator Watson said that this bill has struggled to gain support in the General Assembly.

He said, “I do want to say I apologize to the taxpayers that were unable to get this out. I think the bill would have provided some predictability to both private property owners as well as commercial property owners… The family has been called in. Life support has been removed from this particular bill and I think it’s time to put it in its rest in peace.”

Senator Watson says he hopes to bring the bill back next year.