County Executive Graham Stowe says 28% Property Tax Increase Likely in Giles County

GILES COUNTY, Tenn. — In a candid newsletter released this week, Giles County Executive Graham Stowe announced that Giles County property taxes are likely to increase by 28% if the proposed FY25–26 budget is approved.

For the median home value of $204,000 in Giles County, this would raise the annual property tax bill from $1,013 to $1,299. Executive Stowe acknowledged the steep increase, calling it "a big jump," but said it’s the result of years of deferred maintenance, unsustainable budgeting practices, and rising operational costs.

“We’ve been trying to run a 21st-century county on 20th-century dollars,” Stowe wrote, explaining that for years the county relied on savings to cover recurring costs, while essential services like road maintenance, EMS, and law enforcement were gradually underfunded. He pointed out that the county now faces a $5 million annual budget shortfall and a $20 million backlog in infrastructure projects.

Stowe emphasized that the deficit is not due to excessive spending but rather a long-accumulating problem. “The math no longer works, and time is not on our side,” he said.

He also criticized the state’s tax policies, noting that Tennessee’s $500 million annual surplus has not been shared equitably with counties like Giles. “Until the state gives counties more flexibility, we’re left with difficult trade-offs and very few options,” he added.

The budget, crafted with input from department heads and what Stowe described as a “reasonable majority” of commissioners, aims to reflect true operational costs and restore critical services without further delay. A public hearing is scheduled for June 23rd at 9 a.m. at the Giles County Court House. The full budget proposal is available online. You can click here to view the proposed budget.

“We didn’t get here overnight,” Stowe concluded, “but we’ve finally done the hard work to understand where we are, and now we need to act.”

Stowe's newsletter can be viewed by clicking here.