Last April, citizens of Nashville learned that amidst an economic boom, there was somehow a revenue shortfall. Last June it became clear the shortfall was caused by a 2017 decision to set the property tax rate at the lowest point in the history of Metro government. 19 Metro Council members voted to correct that mistake in last year’s budget, but failed to win the day.
Over the past 15 months, there have been dozens of news stories, council meetings, and community meetings related to the city's budget, revenue, and funding. Metro employees, teachers, police officers, firefighters and bus operators have been working to inform the public of the resources needed to keep up with the city’s growth. We look forward to continuing this very healthy, and very public, debate.
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4-17-18 MNPS promises changes after I-Team investigation exposes shortage of paraprofessionals https://www.wsmv.com/news/mnps-promises-changes-after-i-team-investigation-exposes-shortage-of/article_374e6221-e410-570a-a6ee-99feaa34c13a.html
4-17-18 Nashville property tax shortfall: Large commercial owners took home 80% of reduction https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2018/04/17/nashville-property-tax-shortfall-large-commercial-owners-took-home-80-reduction/516303002/
4-18-18 Questioned By The Mayor, Metro Schools Defends Budget Cuts And Explains Shortfall https://www.nashvillepublicradio.org/post/questioned-mayor-metro-schools-defends-budget-cuts-and-explains-shortfall#stream/0
4-8-18 Metro's 911 operators face high turnover and growing vacancies https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/metros-911-operators-face-high-turnover-and-growing-vacancies
5-1-18 Briley budget falls $40M short of Nashville schools' funding request https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/05/01/briley-budget-falls-40-m-short-nashville-schools-funding-request/569757002/
5-2-18 Mayor Briley's proposed budget eliminates cost-of-living pay increases https://www.wkrn.com/top-news/mayor-brileys-proposed-budget-eliminates-cost-of-living-pay-increases/1156369703
5-8-18 Schools will be spared cuts as MNPS leaders address $17M budget hole https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2018/05/08/nashville-schools-budget-cuts-funding-mnps/589593002/
5-9-18 Budget shortfall leaves Nashville teachers without raises https://www.wsmv.com/news/budget-shortfall-leaves-nashville-teachers-without-raises/article_7e3bda59-c4d1-5836-a8db-efd59e5c9186.html
5-9-18 Nashville's New Wall Street Crowd to Pocket 87% Savings on Property Taxes https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-09/nashville-s-wall-street-crowd-to-score-87-savings-on-home-taxes
5-14-18 Amid budget shortfall, are Nashville's financial incentives still worth the cost? https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2018/05/14/nashville-budget-shortfall-business-incentives-start-raise-questions/595473002/
5-18-18 How to calculate Nashville property tax, with or without proposed 50-cent increase https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2018/05/18/tennessee-property-tax-nashville-davidson-county-calculator/623340002/
5-18-18 50-Cent Property Tax Increase Proposed By Metro Councilmembers https://patch.com/tennessee/nashville/50-cent-property-tax-increase-proposed-metro-councilmembers
5-22-18 Nashville schools board calls on parents and teachers to lobby Metro Council for more funds https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2018/05/22/nashville-schools-budget-parents-lobby-metro-council/631999002/
5-23-18 Metro Council members express hope they can find money for public schools teacher raises https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2018/05/23/metro-council-members-express-hope-they-can-find-money-nashville-public-schools-teacher-raises/636979002/
5-24-18 Amid Talks Of School Budget Cuts, Paraprofessionals Contemplate The Future https://www.newschannel5.com/news/amid-talks-of-school-budget-cuts-paraprofessionals-contemplate-the-future
6-1-18 ‘The perception is Metro left money on the table’ https://www.tnledger.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=107064
6-5-18 Homes in Wealthy Neighborhoods Received Property Tax Decrease https://www.newschannel5.com/news/on-the-rise/homes-in-wealthy-neighborhoods-received-property-tax-decrease
6-6-18 Groups Beg Metro Council To Raise Taxes To Fund Raises For Teachers And City Employees https://www.nashvillepublicradio.org/post/groups-beg-metro-council-raise-taxes-fund-raises-teachers-and-city-employees#stream/0
6-6-18 Teachers, unions push property tax hike as Nashvillians sound off on budget woes https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/06/06/nashville-teachers-unions-push-property-tax-hike-they-sound-off-budget-woes/671278002/
6-12-18 Does Metro Need More Money? https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/features/article/21008851/does-metro-need-more-money
6-13-18 Growing Debt Blamed For Budget Shortfall https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/growing-debt-blamed-for-budget-shortfall
6-14-18 Nashville budget proposal: $2 million in cuts — but not enough for fully-funded schools, pay hikes https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/06/14/metro-nashville-budget-cuts-mnps-funding/703783002/
6-19-18 Winners & losers: What's at stake in Metro's budget debate https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2018/06/19/winners-losers-whats-at-stake-in-metros-budget.html
6-19-18 Here's how much Nashville tax revenue goes to developers instead of schools https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/06/19/nashville-schools-budget-shortfall-how-much-tax-revenue-lost-development-incentives/714793002/
6-20-19 Nashville Council Rejects Property Tax Hike, Finalizing Budget That Pinches Schools And City Staff https://www.nashvillepublicradio.org/post/nashville-council-rejects-property-tax-hike-finalizing-budget-pinches-schools-and-city-staff#stream/0
6-21-18 Nashville Already Anticipating An Even Tougher City Budget Next Year https://www.nashvillepublicradio.org/post/nashville-already-anticipating-even-tougher-city-budget-next-year#stream/0
6-21-18 Frustrated With Mayor's Power Over Budget, Metro Council To Hire Its Own Finance Guru https://www.nashvillepublicradio.org/post/frustrated-mayors-power-over-budget-metro-council-hire-its-own-finance-guru#stream/0
6-26-18 Nashville’s Metro Council Reeling with Money Woes https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2018/jul/26/nashvilles-metro-council-reeling-with-money-woes/
7-1-18 Musing City: What kind of place does Nashville want to be? https://www.governing.com/topics/urban/gov-nashville.html
7-11-18 After Tumult, Nashville Mayor Wants Focus On ‘Fundamentals’ Of Education, Safety, Prosperity https://www.nashvillepublicradio.org/post/after-tumult-nashville-mayor-wants-focus-fundamentals-education-safety-prosperity#stream/0
7-16-18 If Nashville has more taxpayers than ever before, why is it short on money? https://fox17.com/news/local/if-nashville-has-more-taxpayers-than-ever-before-why-is-it-short-on-money
7-25-18 Metro departments asked to cut budgets amid shortfall https://fox17.com/news/local/metro-departments-asked-to-cut-budgets-amid-shortfall
8-20-18 Budget Shortfall Forces 'Change of Direction' For Metro Fire Department https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/budget-shortfall-forces-change-of-direction-for-metro-fire-department
8-24-18 Report Sheds More Light On Metro Schools’ Shortfall, Spending Trends https://www.nashvillepublicradio.org/post/report-sheds-more-light-metro-schools-shortfall-spendinhttps://www.nashvillepost.com/politics/metro-government/article/21022177/mayor-appoints-five-to-new-budget-study-groupg-trends#stream/0
8-30-18 Budget Shortfall Impacts Sheriff, Police Departments https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/budget-shortfall-impacts-sheriff-police-departments
9-13-18 Mayor appoints five to new budget study group https://www.nashvillepost.com/politics/metro-government/article/21022177/mayor-appoints-five-to-new-budget-study-group
9-21-18 'No crisis,' Mayor Briley says of Nashville's finances, affordable housing. Others push back https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/09/21/nashville-mayor-david-briley-says-no-crisis-city-finances-housing/1356248002/
11-28-18 Council members tie Amazon incentives to raises https://www.newschannel5.com/news/some-metro-council-members-call-for-metro-employee-pay-raise
11-29-18 Why Nashville seems broke even as the city grows https://fox17.com/news/local/why-nashville-seems-broke-even-as-the-city-grows
11-29-18 Metro employees feel 'left behind' after no pay raise https://www.newschannel5.com/news/metro-employees-feel-left-behind-after-no-pay-raise
11-29-18 Nashville schools needs to sell property or risk cuts. Seven sites that could help close the budget gap. https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2018/11/29/nashville-schools-capital-list-and-cuts-fund-schools/2136609002/
12-4-18 Nashville council votes to prohibit selling Metro land for budget fixes https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/12/04/nashville-council-votes-prohibit-selling-metro-land-budget-fixes/2207303002/
12-28-18 Briley 'Committed' to Avoiding Tax Hike in 2019, Planning Listening Tour https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/pith-in-the-wind/article/21038856/briley-committed-to-avoiding-tax-hike-in-2019-planning-listening-tour
1-15-19 News4 analyzes Nashville's finances, debt https://www.wsmv.com/news/news-analyzes-nashville-s-finances-debt/article_aded1050-18c9-11e9-9e73-d7dd3f3e5f15.html
1-16-19 Project Nashville: Sounding the alarm on fire station safety https://fox17.com/news/project-nashville/project-nashville-sounding-the-alarm-on-fire-station-safety
2-7-19 Project Nashville: Brain damaged firefighter wants Metro to hire more employees https://fox17.com/news/project-nashville/project-nashville-brain-damaged-firefighter-wants-metro-to-hire-more-employees
2-14-19 Project Nashville: Do Metro Government budget decisions impact your insurance premiums? https://fox17.com/news/project-nashville/project-nashville-do-metro-government-budget-decisions-impact-your-insurance-premiums
2-19-19 Metro Police officers leaving the department due to low morale https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/metro-police-officers-leaving-the-department-due-to-low-morale
2-26-19 Project Nashville: Funding Firefighters https://fox17.com/news/project-nashville/project-nashville-funding-firefighters
3-5-19 Nashville teachers, employees would get 3 percent pay raise in proposed 2019-2020 budget. Some say it's not enough. https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2019/03/05/mnps-pay-raise-2019-2020-budget/3066022002/
3-6-19 Briley turns to Music City Center for more help ahead of another tight budget https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2019/03/06/briley-turns-to-music-city-center-for-more-help.html
3-14-19 Project Nashville: Teacher's aide takes stand after Metro government's broken promises https://fox17.com/news/project-nashville/project-nashville-broken-promises
4-11-19 Project Nashville: Why are teachers without books in the 'IT city'? https://fox17.com/news/project-nashville/project-nashville-why-are-teachers-without-books-in-the-it-city
4-17-19 Teachers rally for full funding of Metro Schools at budget meeting https://fox17.com/news/local/metro-schools-leaders-present-budget-to-mayor-briley
4-25-19 Nashville to get $300M in deal with private company to take over on-street parking https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2019/04/25/nashville-street-parking-laz-private-contract/3562335002/
4-11-19 Here's how parking in Nashville will change if the Mayor's plan to privatize it passes https://www.wsmv.com/news/here-s-how-parking-in-nashville-will-change-if-the/article_164eb68a-5cb8-11e9-b5ab-5709b0b7e9cc.html
5-2-19 More than 350 teachers across Metro Nashville school district request substitutes Friday https://fox17.com/news/local/more-than-350-teachers-across-metro-nashville-school-district-request-substitutes-friday
5-3-19 Metro’s Budget Sends Mixed Message: Some Pay Raises, But Cuts Elsewhere https://www.nashvillepublicradio.org/post/metro-s-budget-sends-mixed-message-some-pay-raises-cuts-elsewhere
5-3-19 More than 1,000 teachers, staff don't show up to Metro Schools on Friday https://fox17.com/news/local/parents-say-mcgavock-high-has-turned-into-organized-recess-with-120-teacher-absences
5-5-19 Nearly 200 MNPS teachers, staff out Monday after sickout last week https://fox17.com/news/local/teacher-sick-out-to-continue-monday-during-teacher-appreciation-week
5-15-19 Metro Council member believes lack in tax increase are behind budget problems https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/metro-council-member-believes-lack-in-tax-increase-are-behind-budget-problems/2005247013
5-15-19 Nashville May Cut Bus Service And Raise Fares Because Of Budget Shortfall https://www.nashvillepublicradio.org/post/nashville-may-cut-bus-service-and-raise-fares-because-budget-shortfall#stream/0
5-16-19 School board asks Metro to approve budget to fund 10% teacher raise https://www.newschannel5.com/news/school-board-asks-metro-to-approve-budget-to-fund-10-teacher-raise
5-16-19 Teachers march for payraise, school board asks for $76 million at city budget hearing https://www.wkrn.com/news/teachers-march-for-payraise-school-board-asks-for-76-million-at-city-budget-hearing/2007667429
5-16-19 Nashville teachers, protesters at City Hall to demand higher pay https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2019/05/16/nashville-teachers-absent-again-part-mnps-sick-out/3691484002/
5-22-19 Here Are The Two Dozen Nashville Bus Routes Facing Cuts Or Elimination https://www.nashvillepublicradio.org/post/here-are-two-dozen-nashville-bus-routes-facing-cuts-or-elimination#stream/0
5-29-19 Council will again consider property tax increase https://www.nashvillepost.com/politics/metro-government/article/21070700/council-will-again-consider-property-tax-increase
5-31-19 Mayor David Briley hits 'pause button' on Nashville private parking deal https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2019/05/31/nashville-mayor-david-briley-withdraws-public-parking-proposal/1297931001/
6-7-19 Controversial parking deal remains key piece of upcoming budget, despite Briley's 'pause' https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2019/06/07/controversial-parking-deal-remains-key-piece-of.html
6-11-19 Council member Steve Glover proposes 3.6% property tax hike for increased Metro employee raises https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2019/06/11/nashville-budget-council-member-propose-3-6-percent-property-tax-hike/1418274001/
6-12-19 Project Nashville: Do Metro education dollars make it to the classroom? https://fox17.com/news/project-nashville/project-nashville-do-metro-education-dollars-make-it-to-the-classroom
6-14-19 Nashville Mayor David Briley criticizes tax increase proposals as a third budget plan is filed https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2019/06/14/nashville-mayor-david-briley-criticizes-tax-increase-proposals-third-budget-plan-filed/1461283001/
6-16-19 A cruel paradox: Despite thriving economy, Nashville struggles to fund schools, city services https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2019/06/16/nashville-struggles-fund-schools-services-despite-thriving-economy/1263615001/