A former Metro councilman is leading what he calls a grassroots effort to drum up support for Mayor Karl Dean’s proposed property tax increase. Erik Cole, who once represented a portion East Nashville on the Council, is leading the group called Moving Nashville Forward.
Cole says he, Francie Hunt of the advocacy group Stand for Schools , and Pastor Michael Joyner of Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Bordeaux came up with the idea.
Their group plans to launch a door to door campaign to help residents feel better about their taxes going up.
Cole says his former colleagues on the Metro Council will be more willing to support the measure if they hear about it from their constituents.
“What you have to weigh is you have to go out and talk to your constituents and you’ve got to talk to them about the benefit of city services. We’re in a situation now where we’re talking about needs, we’re not talking about wants or luxuries.”
Moving Nashville Forward is registered as a non-profit and will accept donations for an ad campaign. Cole is quick to point out his group isn’t affiliated with others in support of the increase, like the Chamber of Commerce. But he says the Chamber is going to help him get the word out about his effort.
Meanwhile, those against the tax increase are hoping they can bend the ear of council members, too. The Nashville Tea Party says it will organize a grassroots campaign of it’s own.
These efforts to sway voters don’t have a lot of time. The council starts debate on the increase this week. A final vote will come at the end of June.
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