Tony's Big Lie(s) 3

At the last Lenoir City council meeting, mayor Tony Aikens was on a real roll, of telling big giant whoppers. It almost seems now, that he just can't help himself anymore. This meeting was to adopt the city budget for the next fiscal year. At one point, he called up the Lenoir City school administrator to discuss their budget. Aikens told the administrator he wanted her to give information on the schools. Because he said, there's a "5th district commissioner" that puts out misinformation. He didn't call any names, but I'm pretty sure he was talking about me but just couldn't bring himself to say my name. More importantly, he didn't give a single example of any misinformation that "5th district commissioner" has put out. I've offered the challenge Mr. Mayor many times, prove me wrong, show us that misinformation you refer to. just once.

Next was the vote to set the city's property tax rate. It was mentioned that the 94 cent property tax rate was less than the state set certified tax rate. Aikens said he was glad the city was able to give the city property owners a break on their taxes since the county raised their taxes. The 2024 county property tax increase for Loudon County schools did not apply to any city property owners despite what the mayor said and he knows that.

As to the city certified tax rate, city officials raised the property tax rate in 2021 by 17%, exceeding the certified property tax rate by 14 cents. The city certified property tax rate is actually 85 cents. So while Aikens tries to toot his own horn, it doesn't quite work out when the facts are known. If city officials had been honest and done what they should have, the current city property tax rate would be 85 cents not 94 cents.

The mayor also failed to mention all the other city property tax increases, the Rain Tax, the gas tax increase the city officials voted for and the two times in the last four years they tried to raise the sales tax. Mayor Aikens would do well to keep his mind on what he's done to the city and not be worrying about what the county is doing.


News Herald Public Notice 6/20/21

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6/23/25