Johnson City property tax hike makes it through first round of approval

Editor's note: The headline and following story has been updated to clarify that Johnson City's proposed property tax increase and budget is still making its way through the commission's approval process. A 28-cent property tax increase made its way through the Johnson City Commission's first approval in a unanimous vote Thursday night. Tensions were high at the commission's first budget reading as residents took to the microphone during a public hearing to voice their opposition to the city's proposed tax increase. "One year ago, this body looked us in the eye and said that the Sean Williams settlement would not impact taxpayers. Today, we're being told it's contradictory under pressure," said Johnson City resident Dave Adams during the public hearing for the budget. "If that's true, then before this commission asks taxpayers for one more dollar, the public deserves to see every discretionary expenditure justified, every affordable cost challenge and every official connected to the failures that produce this liability held accountable," Adams said. Following City Manager Cathy Ball's budget presentation to commissioners, several members of the public spoke during the public hearing. The proposed $130.9 million proposed general fund budget includes a local tax increase to cover several expenses, including first-year debt service for a new aquatics facility, a $1 million contribution to the city's stabilization or "rainy day" fund and personnel and equipment additions for public works, among others. Many residents noted the connection between the $1 million allocation to the stabilization fund and the $30 million legal settlement paid out to victims of convicted child sex offender Sean Williams, which depleted the city's rainy day fund. Other members of the public said they did not see a buildout for a proposed multimillion-dollar aquatics facility worth the extra funds. The first year of debt service for the $44 million center would equate to eight of the 28-cent proposed tax increase. "I do not believe this budget strikes the right balance between the city's financial needs and residents' ability to pay," city resident Sylvain Bruni said during the public hearing. "This price is not right. I understand the challenge to rebuild reserves, maintaining services, investing in the future, but residents also deserve accountability when major financial decisions have such impact on their household budgets." With the approval, the proposed budget will move on to its second reading for commission deliberation. The second reading will be held at City Hall during a special called commission meeting on Thursday, June 11 at 7 a.m.