Dear Neighbors,

 

Yesterday, Mayor O’Connell delivered his second State of Metro address and released his recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2026. It’s a $3.8 billion proposal focused on the basics: strong public schools, reliable city services, affordable housing, and safe neighborhoods—all while maintaining the lowest property tax rate Nashville has had in decades.

 

As your council member, I’ll be reviewing this budget with a focus on how it serves District 24 and ensures equity, accountability, and fiscal sustainability across the city. The proposed budget makes major investments in:

Importantly, the budget must also account for the end of federal pandemic aid and rising costs from inflation and development.

 

The Council will now begin the public hearing and amendment process, and I’ll be listening closely to your feedback as we shape the final version in time for the July 1 start of the new fiscal year.

 

I have included some at-a-glance highlights in the graphics below and encourage you to spend some time reviewing The Citizen's Guide to the Metro Budget. I’ll keep you updated as the process moves forward.

 

Brenda Gadd

Councilmember, District 24

Metro Water has a project scheduled to install a 24" water main on Estes Rd, which will require a daytime-only street closure from May 5 - June 27. They will maintain access for any school buses that may need to travel through the area during the closure period.

 

NDOT will begin repaving Bowling Avenue from Whitland to just past Woodlawn in mid-May. The work should take about a week, with one-lane traffic and flagging during the project. Striping at the Whitland-Bowling intersection will also be completed. This project does not include the stretch from Woodlawn to Woodmont. NDOT leadership is also reviewing Bowling Avenue for improved pedestrian crossings, based on ongoing safety concerns.

 

Bowling Avenue (West End Avenue to Murphy Road) was among the 25 most recently selected NDOT traffic calming projects. The prioritized projects were chosen from over 600 submissions by community members desiring lower traffic speeds and safer street accommodations for non-drivers in their neighborhoods. Learn more about Metro's traffic calming process.

Many of you are seeing your new property appraisals, and for District 24, the average increase was 45%—right at the county median. This reflects a significant rise in property values since the last reappraisal in 2021, driven by rapid growth and development across Davidson County.

 

Under Tennessee law, the reappraisal process must be revenue neutral. That means Metro can’t collect more revenue just because property values have gone up. To meet this requirement, the certified tax rate (CTR) will be lowered to offset overall increases.

 

However, individual property tax bills will vary. If your property increased in value more than the county median, you may pay more. If it increased less, you may pay less. This isn’t a new issue. Back in 2017, we saw similar trends, with tax impacts varying widely between neighborhoods.

 

It’s also important to note that the CTR is not necessarily the final property tax rate. The Mayor and Council will determine that during the budget process. If the CTR doesn’t generate enough to cover essential services—like schools, emergency response, parks, and public health—we may need to adjust. That decision will also be shaped by expected reductions in federal and state funding.

 

If you believe your property has been overvalued, you can appeal your appraisal. Information about that process at padctn.org/appeal. 

Mayor O’Connell and Metro Planning’s Housing Division recently released the Unified Housing Strategy (UHS)—a first-of-its-kind plan to guide Nashville’s housing efforts with a clear, coordinated, and community-informed approach.

 

Shaped by input from residents across the county and backed by detailed market data, the UHS outlines seven strategies to tackle rising housing costs, preserve and create affordable housing, and strengthen housing stability for renters and homeowners alike. View the executive summary of the plan here. 

 

The plan also includes a Ten-Year Implementation Timeline with additional presentations and public engagement opportunities to come, including: 

 

Thursday, May 8, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.

Howard Office Building, Sonny West Conference Center

 

Thursday, May 15, 2025 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

 

Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

 

Tuesday, May 27, 2025 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Howard Office Building, Sonny West Conference Center

 

You can read the full strategy and sign up for updates at: nashville.gov/UHS.