The Truthiness about Property Taxes

Posted by Mary Mancini on August 28, 2007 under Uncategorized |

It appears as if the Clement campaign, like Stephen Colbert, are no fans of dictionaries or reference books. If they were they would have realized that their afternoon press release should have been titled, “The Truthiness about Property Taxes,” and not the “The Truth about Property Taxes.”

From the Clement press release:

Nashville – Bob Clement has made it clear to the people of Nashville that, if elected mayor, he will not increase property taxes. Clement has demonstrated leadership by repeatedly pledging that he will not raise property taxes in the next four years.

Yeah, because he can’t raise property taxes. Didn’t we go over this yesterday? Is following the law really such a stretch that you have to crow about it so loudly?

“I have repeatedly made a straightforward pledge not to raise property taxes,” said Clement. “I will lead Nashville forward with no new property tax increases in the next four years.”

Clement said if elected he would create an Office of Volunteerism, a Metro crime lab, implement more music and art festivals, employ a Director of Vitality and Vibrancy, create an arts-in-transit program, establish a mayor’s arts award, hire attendance workers for every middle school and elementary school, improve the State Fairgrounds property, and bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games (FYI, Chicago is projecting a $2.9 billion operating budget for the games - including $500 million approved by the city council, a proposed $150 million in state funds and a $500 million private guarantee.) Has anyone heard the Congressman talk about working within the existing budget?

Syndicated radio talk show host Dave Ramsey of the Dave Ramsey Show is supporting Clement and backed his pledge not to raise property taxes.

Kleinheider over a VolunteerVoters.com follows up on this one and learns that Dave Ramsey can’t vote in Davidson County because he lives in Williamson County. But has been a good friend of Bob’s for “twenty years or more.” It’s understandable that Dave doesn’t know the real truth about how property taxes work in Davidson County since he doesn’t live here. Perhaps he can read Clement’s campaign material and learn:

Idea #24 Efficient Government: “The voters have spoken and said there will be no property tax increase without a referendum,” Bob Clement said.