Metro Council could be gearing up for a battle to lower the rate.
Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston tells Axios she's collaborating with other council members on an alternative budget plan with a lower tax rate than O'Connell's.
She said it's too soon to know how much lower their proposed rate will be, but promised it will include spending reductions.
What she's saying: "We're trying to balance out what we actually need to deliver efficient, effective services to the public while not overburdening the taxpayer," she says.
Metro Councilmember Delishia Porterfield, who chairs the budget committee, could also propose a different tax rate than O'Connell's.
State of play: The cost of running the government has gotten more expensive since Metro's last tax increase in 2020. The city has only raised property taxes twice since 2005.