Teachers, unions push property tax hike as Nashvillians sound off on budget woes
Nashville teachers, education advocates, city workers and union leaders Tuesday asked the Metro Council to override Mayor David Briley by approving a property tax hike — one that would fully fund schools and deliver a cost-of-living pay increase that was promised to Metro employees.
Members of the Service Employees International Union Local 205 and the Metro Nashville Education Association, the local teacher's union, came out in full force to deliver their pitch during a marathon public hearing on Briley's proposed operating budget before the Metro Council. They were joined by leaders of Nashville's police and fire unions and other citizens.
The more than three-hour hearing went late into the night with many Nashvillians — fed up and perplexed — asking how a city with such enormous economic growth could be facing budget hardships.
Some begged. Some pleaded. And although not everyone was in agreement that a tax hike is the best solution, the vast majority of speakers told the told the council to step in to fix the city's budget revenue shortfall.
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https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/06/06/nashville-teachers-unions-push-property-tax-hike-they-sound-off-budget-woes/671278002/