CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The city’s recent proposal to raise property taxes by 33.7% has been a bit of a shock. But it comes as Clarksville continues to struggle to keep up with rapid population growth – driven in part by people attracted to Montgomery County’s comparatively low tax rates and low cost of living.
Mayor Joe Pitts has proposed to increase the property tax rate by 31 cents, from $0.92 per $100 of assessed value to $1.23. In the previous budget cycle, in 2025, the mayor tried to get a 16-cent increase, but that was whittled down to a 4-cent increase.
Montgomery County, meanwhile, has a property tax rate of $2.10 per $100 of assessed value, making the current combined rate for Clarksville-Montgomery County property owners $3.02. The proposed increase would bring that total to $3.33.
How does that compare to other cities in Tennessee?
Tax rates in Tennessee’s largest cities
Some highlights: By far, the highest property tax rate among the major cities is in Memphis. By contrast, Nashville’s rate is much lower, likely due to that city’s eye-popping property values. After a 31-cent rate increase, Clarksville’s rate would be well above Murfreesboro’s, but still below Chattanooga’s.
The 10 largest cities in Tennessee, in descending order, with their corresponding county, in the combined city/county property tax rate:
- Nashville, Davidson: $2.81
- Memphis, Shelby: $5.27
- Knoxville, Knox: $3.71
- Chattanooga, Hamilton: $3.44
- Clarksville, Montgomery: $3.02 (current, $3.33 proposed)
- Murfreesboro, Rutherford: $2.82
- Franklin, Williamson: $2.83
- Johnson City, Washington: $3.08
- Jackson, Madison County: $3.48
- Hendersonville, Sumner: $2.01
Note: All rates from the Tennessee Comptroller website.
Tax rates in surrounding communities
The current property tax rate of $3.02 in Clarksville isn’t too far above that of the surrounding rural counties, despite that Clarksville is considered “urban” as the fifth largest city in Tennessee. The 31-cent increase to $3.33 would put us well above the surrounding rates.
The Tennessee county seats/counties surrounding Clarksville-Montgomery, in the combined city/county property tax rate, clockwise from the east:
- Springfield, Robertson: $2.59
- Ashland City, Cheatham: $2.21
- Dickson, Dickson: $2.40
- Erin, Houston: $2.42
- Dover, Stewart: $2.26
Note: All rates from the Tennessee Comptroller website.
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Comparisons matter, except when they don’t
Of course, a comparison of tax rates tells only part of the story. Additional comparisons could be made about how well the citizens are served in these other communities with public facilities, roads, police and fire protection and general quality of life.
Does Clarksville compare well on those fronts? And if not, is it worth raising Clarksville’s tax rate by 33.7% to ensure that we do? That’s the question before the City Council in the coming weeks.
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