Latest news with #DebraTaylor
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
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. City council wrap-up: 3% raises for employees, MATA mayhem '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. One-on-one with Memphis' new public safety director 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Colin Flatt: Footballer's daughter frustrated by inquest delay
The daughter of a former professional footballer, who died in 2021, said she was "very disappointed" that an inquest into his death had been adjourned for a further 14 Flatt - who played for Southend United, Leyton Orient and Barnet in the 1960s and 70s - died in September 2021, aged eight-day inquest into his death commenced on 9 June, but assistant coroner Tina Harrington ruled that, for legal reasons, it should be heard in front of a jury, with the soonest available date being August Taylor, daughter of Mr Flatt, told Essex Coroner's Court that "words fail me" after the adjournment was announced. 'Reluctant' decision Mr Flatt was described as "forever a Shrimper" in a tribute from the Southend United Ex-Players Association, which said that he scored eight goals in 24 appearances during the 1966-67 also walked out at Wembley in the FA Trophy for Barnet in 1972, and played for other clubs including Taylor expressed her frustration as the inquest into her father's death was delayed for more than a the assistant coroner, she asked: "Is the jury going to make a difference? I don't know. Will the outcome be different to what you would have ruled? I don't know.""It was a delay which could have been avoided."Ms Harrington told Mrs Taylor, "I can only apologise", adding that her decision to adjourn had been a "reluctant" one. Mr Flatt's partner of 20 years, Melanie Leahy, has been one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the Lampard Inquiry into more than 2,000 mental health deaths in Essex between 2000 and 2012, Ms Leahy's son Matthew, 20, died while he was under the care of NHS mental health services in the inquest into Mr Flatt's death is set to resume on 17 August 2026. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
31-01-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Leicestershire County Council proposes 4.99% tax rise
Leicestershire County Council says it intends to increase its share of council tax bills by 4.99% from authority said the rise - the maximum allowable under government rules - was needed to help it deal with "relentless" pressure on its Thursday, the Conservative-run council warned its spending would outstrip its income by £4.7m in 2025-26 with the gap rising to £91m by are due to approve a new budget when they meet on 7 February. The council said the 4.99% precept rise would generate an extra £20m but warned that would only cover only National Living Wage and National Insurance rises next year so £33m of savings would be needed. The council also blamed inflation and rising demand for services for driving up predicted costs by £218m over the next four council said social care was one of its largest areas of spending and it had committed an extra £100m to support vulnerable children and further said it had earmarked an extra £12m for pothole repairs on county roads. Following flooding in early January which affected more than 700 properties in Leicestershire, the council said it would invest £1m in flood prevention and £500,000 will also be spent by April to clear drains of flood debris and fix immediate council leader Debra Taylor said: "Our focus has to be managing what's in our gift and remaining financially resilient. "We're investing big sums of money in supporting vulnerable people, directing as much as we can into services we know our residents value, such as mending potholes, and supporting flood-hit communities." The council's cabinet member for resources Lee Breckon added: "The pressure on councils' budgets is relentless."We're lean, high-performing and low funded but continuing to do the best we can with the money we have. "No-one wants to increase council tax but without it, we'd have to make £20m more savings next year."
