The Oak Ridge Schools are requesting a substantial property tax increase to fund items they see as essential to their future.
Yet an Oak Ridge tax hike will markedly reduce our city’s ability to recruit new U.S. Department of Energy workers. According to the latest DOE report, Anderson County is losing over $300,000 per week to Knox County in DOE payroll. That loss rate is increasing, and a tax hike would make this serious problem worse.
Unfortunately, our city has a DOE “isolation fence” around it. In most cases, new workers are sent by the DOE system directly to Knox County—mainly to Farragut. And as a result, their important housing decisions are made without talking to an Oak Ridge realtor. They never get an opportunity to find out how wonderful it is to live here.
The new Kroger store won’t affect this uneven playing field. A property tax hike (of any size) will simply make the problem worse—giving Farragut an even greater advantage over us.
The Council needs to hold the line on tax rates while protecting as many of the competitive advantages within the Oak Ridge schools as possible. Kudos to Mayor Beehan and the City Council for recognizing this necessity.
Anderson County also plans to hold the line on tax rates, despite the many wants the county faces. Kudos to Mayor Frank and the Anderson County Commission also.
Of course, this leaves the very important question about the future direction of Oak Ridge Schools unanswered. Our great school system will require funding increases at some point to maintain its competitive edge and promote educational excellence. Good schools cost money. That’s a reality too.
The answer to this dilemma is to get our economy moving. It’s so important to aggressively market the DOE workforce and take full advantage of the opportunities to expand heritage tourism and rowing tourism.
If the Council does this, the schools will be fine.
If the Council fails to get the economy moving, our city will suffer. If downstream the Council compounds the problem by raising taxes, Farragut will have a field day at the expense of our schools (and retailers and homeowners).
That’s a mistake we should avoid at all costs.
Martin McBride
Oak Ridge
Anne Garrison Ross says
My house has in Willow Place has been for sale for almost 18 months. A property tax increase isn’t going to help it sell any quicker.
Angi Agle says
Prior to the DOE buy-out in the 1980s, the property tax rate was upwards of $4 — and far more of the DOE and contractor workforce lived here. And, we had a much healthier retail base. That tells me the tax rate isn’t the problem.
Mike Mahathy says
I will use personal testimony. We purposely moved to OR a few years ago knowing the tax rate was higher so our daughters could attend OR schools. There were also other things we liked about OR. I know several other families that did similar.
Most of the people moving to this area are coming from cities/states with higher, sometimes much higher, tax rates. While I do want taxes as low as possible that’s only one piece of the pie.
We have a shortage of available housing for DOE professionals. Our retail is growing but doesn’t stack up to Turkey Creek. We must look at each of these together. We prefer OR and do not mind a short drive to Knoxville but for others it may be different.
What OR still has to draw is a great school system. A family moved here from NC last July after researching high schools in the south. ORHS was the best choice for their son.
Property tax alone is not why families do not move to OR. The school system is a reason people do move to OR.
Cindy McCullough says
I would have to agree with this assessment. Maybe local people moving to the more immediate area look at property taxes, but coming from Wisconsin, property taxes are much lower here and were not part of our decision. The school system was a primary factor in our decision. So was finding housing and that proved very challenging for us. Turkey Creek had much more housing that fit our desire for a home, but in the end we did find something in Oak Ridge, but it took tenacity and stubbornness and a house we put an offer on falling through in Turkey Creek. So don’t blame property taxes alone, like it seems many do. For me, the south seems to believe let’s keep property taxes so low that we don’t have the quality of life I want in a town. I want parks with bathrooms, sidewalks, wheel chair access, etc. For me, Oak Ridge, was lacking in a number of things we would have wanted. (Sorry, we are now moving, so my statements are past tense at this point.)
johnhuotari says
Sorry to hear that you’re leaving Oak Ridge, Cindy. We appreciate you reading Oak Ridge Today and participating in the discussion. I hope you continue to check in when you can.
I know there are people who consider the housing issue to be the primary issue in Oak Ridge, so I think any insight you can offer in that area, especially in terms of how to improve the city’s value to prospective residents, is valuable.
Peter Scheffler says
Cindy, I’m also sorry you’re leaving. I don’t want to pry, but are you moving because of a job change requiring a transfer out of the area, or did you not find Oak Ridge to your liking after all?
Cindy McCullough says
My husband was not happy at his job. It was not what it seemed to be. Oak Ridge, I overall like, even though we had some issues adjusting to southern culture, being from Wisconsin. I am used to an area that pays more property taxes, but has sidewalks in better shape, bathrooms at parks, more wheel chair accessible businesses and public buildings, etc. Oak Ridge does have more services I am told than Farragut, as I have heard our roads are better after the occasional snow and ice. The cleanup after the storm seemed to happen incredibly quickly overall, etc. It is hard to market/sell those services though.
Peter Scheffler says
Thanks. Sorry things didn’t work out. Best wishes on your move.