The Murfreesboro Buzz

NO Tax Increase In Rutherford County!

Rutherford county residents should be thrilled to learn that the County Commission has passed the budget for 2007/2008 which allows for NO TAX HIKES!  The property tax rate for Rutherford County will remain at $2.44 for $100 of assessed value.  (See my website for details on calculating your assessed value!)  The county was able to take 9.3 million from the "rainy day fund" and anticipates the revised basic education program will add another 15 million to fund county schools.  In addition to keep the existing property tax rate in check, there will be no increase to the wheel tax which was originally suggested.  Homeowners in Rutherford County have some of the lowest property taxes in the state.  Thanks to the passing of the new budget, they will continue to enjoy living in an area that has some of the most affordable housing prices in the entire Middle Tennessee area, has an environment that promotes an excellent quality of life, provides top-rated schools, and is still able to allow extremely affordable home owner property taxes.  Homeowners here are often spoiled to our extremely low property taxes.  When working with clients relocating here from other parts of the country, it is easy to see how very fortunate we are to live in Rutherford County where taxes are still a minimal expense for homeowners.  Our low tax rates are usually one of the main reasons why individuals and families are choosing to relocate to this area from all across the country.  Kudos to our County Commission for maintaining our current property tax rate and wheel tax with no increase for the next year!   

Rutherford County Ranked At Bottom - For TAXES!

Let's face it, none of us likes to pay taxes!  In fact, most of us consistently complain that we all pay TOO MUCH in taxes.  If you are one of "those people" (like myself) then you will be thrilled to know that Rutherford County was just ranked at the BOTTOM of the scale in tax rates!!  When the top ten growth counties in the Middle Tennessee area were compared, Rutherford County ranked as the 9th lowest on property tax rates! 

Here are the tax rates for Mid-State growth counties:

Davidson - $4.69

Williamson - $3.24  (inside Special District)

Dickson - $3.21

Montgomery - $3.14

Cheatham - $3.13

Wilson- $2.87 (inside Special District)

Robertson - $2.68

Maury - $2.58

Wilson - $2.48 (Outside Special District)

Rutherford $2.44

Sumner - $2.28

Williamson - $2.29 (Outside Special District)

Taxes are calculating at the above rate per $100 of the assessed property value.  Assessed value is typically 1/4 the value of the home.  So, on a $200,000 home located in Rutherford County, property taxes would run approximately $1,220.  This would be calculated by taking 1/4 of $200,000 or $50,000, divided by $100 which would be $500 and then multiplying for $2.44 for a total of $1,220.   

I often work with clients moving here from all over the country.  Hearing their tax stories has kept me apprised of how fortunate we are, and how low our tax rate really is here in Rutherford County.  One of the most important factors that keeps our taxes low is the tourism industry here in Middle Tennessee.  Our local chamber and government officials work hard to recruit tourism and bring events like the TSSAA basketball tournaments and Spring Fling to the area.  These events bring a lot of tax revenue into the county and saves an estimated $196.00 on every homeowners annual property taxes!  That is a huge saving for the average family!  So this spring when the huge crowds of tourists are filling your favorite restaurants or causing you a delaying in your commute and you find yourself sitting in traffic...just think of the $196.00 that these people are putting into your pocket toward taxes!  It should make handling the crowds a little bit easier.   

Don't get me wrong...I am NOT a big fan of paying taxes.  But, when you consider where our tax dollars go, it is easy for me to see what a great deal we have living in Rutherford County.  Our tax dollars are needed in order to provide the excellent schools that we are known for, they fund the sheriff's department and animal services, volunteer fire departments and rescue squads depend on this revenue, and they even keep our many roads safe and drivable.  Murfreesboro and Rutherford County is a wonderful place to live.  I personally, think this is one of the TOP counties in the state to call home.  That is why it is so nice to know that Rutherford is at the TOP of the scale for quality of life, but is at the BOTTOM for tax rates paid by residents!  Yet another good reason to call Rutherford County Tennessee home!!