Americans for Prosperity: Nashville 'under attack' by mayor's tax increase

Nashville City Paper ^ | 5/15/12 | Joey Garrison

[SmithL]

Mayor Karl Dean’s proposed property tax hike, which has already drawn the ire of the Nashville Tea Party, has reverberated up to the conservative-backed Americans for Prosperity political advocacy organization.

Arlington, Va.-based Americans for Prosperity, an advocacy group that professes to educate citizens on education policies, has highlighted Dean’s tax proposal as its top story on its website.

“Nashville taxpayers are under attack by Mayor Dean’s proposed 13 percent property tax increase,” reads a short blog post penned by the organization’s Tennessee state director Brad Stevens.

“Taxpayers should not be on the hook for Nashville city leaders’ lack of fiscal responsibility,” the post continues.

Oddly, instead of focusing on the meat of Dean’s proposed $1.71 billion budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year, the Americans for Prosperity blog post focuses on the salaries of Metro officials.

According to the organization, 226 Metro workers earn more than $100,000 annually.

“There are five – 5! – Assistant Directors in Nashville’s Parks and Recreation department making over $100,000,” the blurb reads.

Dean’s tax increase –– which would increase the property tax rate of the Urban Services District from $4.13 to $4.69 –– goes before the Metro Council on the first of three votes on Tuesday. Under the plan, property owners would pay an additional 12.83 percent in taxes.

As a counter to anti-tax sentiments, a small coalition called Moving Nashville Forward announced its creation Monday. The group plans to mobilize citizens across the county to support Dean’s tax plan.

Founded in 2004, Americans for Prosperity grew from the financial backing of brothers David and Charles Koch of Koch Industries. Americans for Prosperities has historically backed Republican candidates and supported conservative causes.

[SmithL]

Birds gotta fly,

fish gotta swim, and

Rats gotta tax!

[Cicero]

Oddly, . . . “There are five – 5! – Assistant Directors in Nashville’s Parks and Recreation department making over $100,000,” the blurb reads.

I'll bet those Assistant Directors seldom get out into the parks to pick up the trash.

[Buckeye McFrog]

The Nashville City Paper is apparently nothing like the Pittsburgh City Paper.

The latter is a far-left rag, given away on street corners. I’m sure there is no tax increase that it does not support 110%.

[SmithL]

Nashville City Paper carries a lot of far-left junk, too. Even this piece carries more than it’s fair share of snark.