Power Poll Members Oppose Nashville Tax Reduction Referendums

By Bruce Dobie, Tennessee Lookout

July 2, 2021

Nashville Power Poll members are overwhelmingly opposed to rolling back the city’s recent property tax hike. They also oppose amending the Metro Charter in a host of other areas, such as requiring elections if taxes are increased by more than 3%. Requiring such referendums would significantly weaken the mayor, and Metro Council, and turn us more into a direct—rather than representative—democracy. Think California.

While opposed personally to these measures, Power Poll members believe that if an anti-tax referendum ever actually gets on the ballot and is voted on, it’s anybody’s guess what will happen. Such a measure could very well pass.

Here are the specific questions and answers in this June Power Poll:

Question: A Nashville judge last week struck down an effort that would have asked voters in a July 27 election to roll back the city’s property taxes. It was the second such effort that has been quashed in the last year. The most recent effort would also have amended the Metro Charter to require voter referendums in a host of areas, such as land deals, government leases and more. An appeal is likely. Our question: if a similar measure ever appears in a local election, how would you vote?

For: 33 (10.2%)
Against: 273 (84.5%)
Don’t know: 17 (5.3%)

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