News of the Week: Are your taxes going up?

Your Murfreesboro City Council is eyeing several options for balancing its budget next year and most of them involve taking more money from the public.

If they decide to increase property taxes it will end a nearly more than 20-year stretch of a consistent property tax rate. The last time the city actually raised the residential rate was in 1999 to $1.2703 1994 to $2.30 per $100 of assessed value. Since then as property values have increased the rate has trended downward to $0.9494 per $100 of assessed value. (Thank you Property Assessor Rob Mitchell for correcting my memory.)

Interim City Manager Jim Crumley has suggested selling some city-owned real estate, increasing the property tax rate and adding a garbage collection fee. Other options include delaying a few construction projects, like Blackman Park and setting an impact fee on new development, according to the Murfreesboro Post.

You may be wondering how Murfreesboro has a multi-million dollar hole in its budget, what with all the houses and businesses going up everywhere.

Well, it may surprise you to know that growth doesn't pay for itself, especially residential growth. Houses actually consume more municipal resources in the form of services and infrastructure than they pay for in taxes. So the more houses that are built; the bigger the potential budget shortfall.

That's why impact fees on new builds are the fairest option for increasing revenue.

But builders don't like them. So it looks like a property tax increase is in the future.

Smyrna to unveil memorial for fallen Blue Angel

Smyrna's memorial to Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss will be completed at 10 a.m. Friday, June 1 in Lee Victory Recreation Park when a Blue Angel F/A-18C Hornet will be placed.

The Blue Angels pilot died June 1, 2016, when his plane crashed during a practice run before the Great Tennessee Air Show.

A dedication ceremony is slated for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 9.

Traffic around the park will impact Friday as the plane is installed, according to The Daily News Journal.

To donate for construction costs of the memorial, visit CaptJeffKussUSMCMemorial.com, text Jeff to 71777, or donate in person at Smyrna Town Hall or any Franklin Synergy Bank.

Families file federal suit over Hobgood arrests

In April 2016, 10 Murfreesboro City Schools elementary students were falsely arrested and taken to jail. The families of five of those students filed suit against the Murfreesboro Police officer who facilitated the incident.

The suit was filed in federal court last week against Officer Crystal Templeton on behalf on the students, who allege their Civil Rights were violated in the incident. The students from three different schools were arrested after a video of an alleged bullying incident was found.

The students from Hobgood Elementary were arrested, handcuffed and placed in police cars at school. The charges were eventually dropped for lack of evidence.

For her role in the incident, Templeton was given a three-day suspension and six months probation. She was also reassigned.

Other Stuff

Craig Tindall agrees to $180K salary to be Murfreesboro city manager (DNJ)

Rutherford County Unemployment is Down (WGNS)

Cole announces candidacy for mayor of LaVergne (Mboro Post)

Rutherford Girl Scouts earn top award (Mboro Post)

Teen Pregnancy Continues Decline in Tennessee (WGNS)

County School board plans capital projects (Mboro Post)

Middle Tennessee Boulevard nears completion (Mboro Post)

Michelle Willard is a freelance journalist who fills her days with social media marketing, politics, true crime, and taking complaints. You can complain to her on Twitter @MichWillard or by email michelle(at)murfreesborovoice.com.