Nashville’s latest back-and-forth feud is between Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Music City news station FOX 17. Chances are you’ve heard of the property tax problem that many local business owners in downtown Nashville are trying to navigate at the moment. Basically, the new property appraisals that were completed in 2024 have raised property taxes to heights that have never been seen before. So high, in fact, that many Broadway staples are in danger of closing their doors.
It’s no secret that Nashville’s growth has been astronomical, and that growth has resulted in property value – specifically in Davidson County, where the city of Nashville is located – to rise over 40%. You might think, “Oh, that’s great! People’s property is worth more now.” That might be true, but the hidden negative that comes with it: property taxes rise with property value.
Because of the rising property taxes, some locally owned businesses that are located in the downtown area feel as though they are being taxed like corporations just because they are located in a prime location. And one Broadway bar owner is sounding the alarm about the tax increases, and letting it be known that he might not be able to keep his iconic location open much longer…