11-06-2025
Bartlett passes 26% property tax increase
BARTLETT, Tenn. — A property tax increase is coming to the city of Bartlett after the city approved a tax increase of 34 cents per 100 hundred dollars of assessed value Tuesday night.
The 26% increase, which is expected to bring in an additional $36.9 million to the city's budget, is the talk of the town right now.
'I hope the media prints the following headline: Bartlett Board adopts largest property tax increase in Shelby County,' Christine Richards said.
Debra Taylor, a retiree who lives on Social Security and has lived in Bartlett for 26 years, says she loves her community and driving just down the street to see her grandkids.
But after her home went up in value nearly 26% in this year's Shelby County reappraisal, her property taxes will be going up dramatically as well, and she's not sure she can afford the change.
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'I think you have raised the prices too much, you know, for the area,' Taylor said. 'It causes a lot of people to want to leave, you know, sell their home and leave, especially ones who have been here as long as I have.'
The city of Bartlett says the property tax increase will go to benefits for city employees, raise salaries for police and firefighters, water and sewer system upgrades, road work and park restorations.
Most importantly, the money will go to public safety. Nearly 56% of the money they plan to bring in will go to keep the city's residents safe, something city officials see as a priority being right next to Memphis.
'Ladies and gentlemen, our city is surrounded on three sides by the highest crime-rated city in America. Despite this, we have consistently ranked amongst the top 10 safest cities in Tennessee,' said Lt. Matthew Grilliot with the Bartlett Police Department.
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Mayor David Parsons has lived in Bartlett his whole life and believes the increase in property taxes will go to making the city he knows, loves and serves, the very best.
'The services you receive fire, police, public works, parks are only as good as our employees, and if I've got people providing services for me I want the very best,' Parson said.
An increase in property taxes is not uncommon. Memphis, Germantown, and Collierville have increased theirs over the past year.
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