GOP Nashville Condemns Mayor O’Connell and Metro Council for Misusing Tax Dollars and Proposing 27% Property Tax Hike

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nashville, Tennessee — May 6, 2025 — GOP Nashville Chairman Jason Weakley, alongside the Executive Committee, strongly condemns Mayor Freddie O’Connell and the Metro Nashville City Council for their reckless spending of taxpayer funds on programs benefiting illegal immigrants while simultaneously proposing a 27% property tax increase for hardworking Nashvillians.

At a time when families and businesses are grappling with rising costs, Mayor O’Connell’s administration has prioritized funding initiatives like the Belonging Fund, announced on May 5, 2025, which provides financial support to immigrant families, including those affected by recent federal immigration enforcement actions.

This misuse of public resources diverts critical funds from essential city services such as schools, public safety, and infrastructure, placing an undue burden on Nashville’s taxpayers.

Compounding this mismanagement, Mayor O’Connell’s proposed $3.8 billion Fiscal Year 2026 budget includes a property tax rate of $2.814, which, despite being lower than the previous rate, will result in a 26.6% tax increase for many homeowners due to a 45% median property assessment surge, as reported on May 1, 2025. This tax hike threatens to push longtime residents out of their homes and stifle economic growth in our city.

“We are outraged that Mayor O’Connell and the Metro Council are treating Nashville taxpayers like a piggy bank to fund their misguided priorities,” said Chairman Jason Weakley. “Our tax dollars should be invested in strengthening our schools, improving public safety, and maintaining affordability for all Nashvillians—not supporting illegal immigration while demanding a massive tax increase. This is a spending problem, not a revenue problem.”

The GOP Nashville Executive Committee calls on Mayor O’Connell and the Metro Council to immediately halt funding for programs that benefit illegal immigrants, prioritize fiscal responsibility, and reject the proposed property tax increase. We urge the Council to listen to the voices of Nashvillians who rallied against this tax hike on May 1, 2025, outside the Nashville Public Library, demanding accountability and affordability.

GOP Nashville stands united with Davidson County residents in opposing this egregious tax increase and will continue to fight for transparent, responsible governance that puts Nashvillians first.

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For press inquiries, contact

Diana DeVille, GOP Nashville Communications/Corresponding Secretary

communications@gopnashville.org