Earlier this year, mayor Tony Aikens and council members Mike Henline, Jennifer Wampler and Eddie Simpson voted for a multi million dollar sales tax increase. Fortunately, the voters said NO.  

Remember the ridiculous Rain Tax the mayor/council passed supposedly to keep from having to raise property taxes. Well, guess what, back in July 2021, at mayor Aikens recommendation, the council passed a fourteen cent or seventeen percent property tax increase.

Then back in 2018, the council voted for another major increase in city sales tax. Fortunately, the council couldn't pass that on their own. That sales tax increase went to the voters and was soundly defeated.

Then there was the time they all voted for the gas tax increase at Aikens recommendation. They voted unanimously to support the state's gas tax increase. It was passed by the state and now we all pay more for gas.  

While the mayor/council continues raising everybody's taxes for no particular reason, they have given certain developers and businesses millions of dollars in tax breaks through PILOTS, Payment In Lieu Of Taxes. Five year, ten year and even twenty year property tax breaks. So when developers and businesses don't have to pay their taxes, guess who has to make that up? You, the city property owners.

Obviously the mayor/council have no intention of stopping their tax and spend policies. If they all get re-elected, city residents should expect more of the same.

Things in Lenoir City will never change until something changes in Lenoir City.