Executive Director JoAnn Fleming said of the proposed tax increase, “Most elected officials begin budget planning with the tax rate from the previous year. In most cases, this ‘lowballs’ the tax rate increase. We do not start our assessment with the current tax rate because increased property values automatically yield more revenue to local government if the prior year’s tax rate is maintained. Any increase in revenue from property taxes is a tax increase – even if the tax rate does not change.