Tennessee Taxpayer Tab
Out of Pocket, Out of Touch
What Nashville said its property tax hikes would fund — and where some of those dollars actually landed.
Sold to voters as
Essential Services
Actually funding
Political Advocacy
$735,000
Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition
Whose political arm engaged voters to support Mayor O'Connell
$219,000
Private lobbyists
Paid to influence the state capitol a short walk from city hall
Nearly a Million Dollars
of taxpayer money going to political advocacy — while Nashville property taxes climbed over 60% in five years
Sources: WPLN News (State of Metro address); Tennessee Star (Metro Council budget vote); Fox 17 Nashville investigation on taxpayer-funded lobbying. Visualization by Beacon Center of Tennessee.