KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Knoxville voters will decide whether to approve or a reject a proposed local sales tax increase at the polls this fall after the city council voted in favor of adding the question to the ballot.
The council approved the addition of the initiative to the November 4 ballot on second reading by a vote of 7-1. Voters will now choose whether or not the local sales tax will increase from 2.25% to 2.75%.
What would Knoxville’s proposed sales tax increase fund? Mayor releases list of projects
City officials say the proposed increase would generate an estimated $47 million annually and allow the city to complete 20 years-worth of local upgrades over the next five years. Mayor Indya Kincannon released a list of projects and priorities that would be funded by the additional revenue including affordable housing, sidewalks near schools, road paving as well as overdue maintenance for city parks and greenways.
A full list of projects that would be funded by the additional revenue, including a breakdown for each of the city’s six districts, can be viewed on KnoxvilleTN.Gov/LocalOption. Kincannon had pledged to provide annual reports and a publicly-accessible online project tracker. Household expenses like groceries, gas, utilities, prescription medication would be exempt from any potential sales tax increase.
Knoxvillians weigh in on proposed sales tax increase to fund local improvements
More than 60% of Tennessee counties currently have a 2.75% local option sales tax including several surrounding Knox County like Anderson, Grainger, Jefferson, Sevier and Blount counties…