Rutherford County governments avoid tax hikes but increase worker pay

• La Vergne increases pay tables by 6%
• Eagleville may increase pay by up to 10% after completing review of pay scales
• Murfreesboro provides public safety workers 6% increase in pay and 5% for others
• Rutherford County will provide 4% increase to pay tables for government and school district workers

Local governments were able to give raises to their employees without increasing property taxes for a fiscal year that started July 1. 

Rutherford County school district and most government workers on the county’s pay plan will see pay tables increase by 4% as part of an overall appropriation of $686.3 million approved recently by the county commission.

“We’re very happy about that,” said Commissioner Trey Gooch, vice chairman of the Budget, Finance and Investment Committee. “The budget process was very streamlined. There was a lot of work into it. We did make some cuts that we always hate to do.”

County Mayor Bill Ketron praised department heads for working to maintain a conservative budget that allowed the opportunity to provide the raises. 

“Our employees worked straight through the pandemic either coming into work or working from home,” Ketron said. “We consider them all essential, and we’re happy to show them our appreciation with this increase.”

The 4% increase applies to workers on the county or school district pay plans. Those working for the county’s Highway Department, Property Assessor, Register of Deeds, Trustee and County Clerk offices are on different pay plans.