Cookeville Council Finalizes 15-Cent Property Tax Increase

Cookeville City Council voted Thursday to approve a 15-cent property tax increase.

The increase will raise the city’s tax rate to 99 cents.

City Finance Director Brenda Imel said the entire 15-cent increase will go towards improving roads.

“It is going to go into a separate fund, and the name of the fund is called the transportation fund,” Imel said. “It’ll be used for road projects and infrastructure projects related to transportation that’s badly needed around the community.”

Officials had previously proposed a 10-cent increase from the current 84-cent rate to 94-cents. However, Council voted to increase the adjustment during the last Council meeting June 6.

Imel said the adjustment created an additional $600,000 in revenue for the transportation fund.

Council approved the increase by a 4-1 vote with Mayor Ricky Shelton voting against the proposal.