NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Nashville business owners met with Mayor Freddie O’Connell this week after he said he is working with business owners and state partners to “figure something out” for property tax relief.
An East Nashville business owner who attended the meeting said the mayor’s tone felt like, in other words, they will get through it, and there was no sympathy.
The meeting follows growing concerns from business owners after the property tax hike.
Center 615 in East Nashville, which rents space to 60 to 70 businesses, is among those impacted. The space includes Satyaluna Health and Wellness, which provides resources for children with autism.
Christian Paro, owner of Center 615, said that business along with all the others would be forced to leave because of the high property taxes.
“My property tax went up 94%,” Paro said. “It’s unreasonable and it’s unsustainable.”
Paro created the Nashville Property Tax Coalition, made up of about 190 members, including business and property owners fighting for property tax relief.
The coalition sent a letter at the end of February to the mayor’s office and the property assessor’s office asking for help.
“What can you do to help businesses that want to stay in business in their neighborhoods?” asked Paro.
Mayor O’Connell, who proposed the property tax hike, responded to that letter on Wednesday.
“I’m reluctant to say we want to go into an environment where we encourage people to seek to lower property values,” O’Connell said.
He added that his office is continuing to explore possible options.
“We’ll continue working with business owners and state partners and see if we can figure something out,” he said.
Paro, who attended Thursday’s meeting, said he was concerned by the mayor’s tone.
“It’s just, I’m sorry, our hands are tied,” Paro said, describing what he says the mayor told business owners.
“I was quite honestly shocked to hear that he’s repeating the refrain that people are happy when their property values go up,” he added. “The refrain of ‘you should be happy property values are high,’ that’s worrisome.”
The mayor’s office told FOX 17 News it supports local businesses and that these meetings are the first step in addressing concerns.
FOX 17 News has reached out to the mayor’s office for a response to the comment that was said to have been made during the meeting and to ask whether city leaders are working with the state on potential solutions.
The mayor’s office sent this response:
“Members of the Mayor’s Office have had regular conversations with Mr. Paro for much of the last two weeks. We had a candid meeting with Mr. Paro and others just over 24 hours ago, and we will continue to keep that conversation going. We are focused on steps the Mayor’s Office can take or advocate for to support our businesses because they are an integral part of our city.”
Despite concerns, Paro said he remains cautiously optimistic.
“He did say at the end of the meeting he wanted to continue the conversation, so I’m optimistic,” Paro said.
