When Knoxville voters go to the polls in November, they will determine whether to approve a .05 percent increase in the local-option sales tax rate.

A majority of respondents support passage of the city's sales tax referendum.

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon’s administration contends the estimated $47 million annual increase in revenues would fund upgrades to infrastructure throughout the city, affordable housing initiatives, parks, paving, and more.

The pitch has been persuasive for a majority of Power Poll members, who support both the tax increase and the projects it would fund over the next five years.

Nearly six out of 10 respondents said they support passage of the referendum, compared to 28 percent who said they did not support it, with 13 percent undecided.

Passage would boost the local-option rate from 2.25 percent to 2.75 percent, the maximum allowed by state law (that’s on top of the state’s 7 percent rate). Five counties adjoining Knox have the 2.75 percent rate. Food products and ingredients would be exempt from the increase.

The Kincannon administration has committed to a five-year plan for spending the revenues, divided between district-specific projects and citywide initiatives.

Annual citywide expenditures include $10 million for affordable housing (more than twice the amount the city currently spends), $4 million for additional road paving, and $2 million for traffic calming and safety projects.

The district-specific expenditures are tailored for each of the city’s six Council districts. Overall, each year the city would spend $10 million on parks, $8 million on greenways, $7.5 million on sidewalks and $5 million on facilities.

An overwhelming majority of Power Poll respondents — 75 percent —  agreed with those priorities. Eighteen percent disagreed with the spending plan, and 7 percent were undecided.

The Power Poll isn’t a scientific poll; instead, it is a survey of leaders in the public, business, education and nonprofit sectors. Results from scientific polls of all registered voters, for example, could produce different results. This month’s survey asked questions of 686 members, and 245 responded, for a response rate of 35.7 percent.

The survey sought responses to other questions on a variety of local matters. 

The Knox County Board of Education recently passed a strict new cell phone and wireless device policy for the upcoming school year. The new rule would establish a “bell-to-bell” ban on student phone use during the instructional day.

Under the policy, students would have to keep phones and smartwatches turned off and out of sight throughout the entire instructional day, including during transitions between classes and at lunch. Use would only be allowed before and after school, or with administrative approval for emergencies or academic purposes. 

A staggering 80 percent of Power Poll respondents approved of the new policy. Fourteen percent disagreed with the decision, while 5 percent said they were undecided.

A majority of respondents disagreed with another recent decision involving youth — Knox County Commission’s plan to turn over management of Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center to Sheriff Tom Spangler.

The center’s namesake and the only superintendent in the facility’s 53-year history, Richard L. Bean, is retiring on Aug. 1 following scrutiny over the dismissal of personnel.

Commissioners approved a transition plan that calls for an interim superintendent, Brian Bivens, to run the facility until the sheriff takes over on Jan. 1, 2026, for an 18-month period.

Only 36 respondents expressed satisfaction about the arrangement with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, with a plurality of 44 percent in disagreement. One-fifth of respondents remained undecided.

A big majority — 59 percent — is very concerned about the impact of federal budget cuts on local services, and another 21 percent of respondents said they were “somewhat concerned.” Nineteen percent said they weren’t concerned at all.

A larger proportion of the respondent pool — 71 percent — predicted that the cuts increase the likelihood of future local tax increases, while 15 percent anticipated no effect on local taxes. Fourteen percent were undecided.

This month’s questions and responses (percentages are rounded and might not add up to 100):

Do you support passage of the city’s sales tax increase referendum?

Yes: 59 percent

No: 28 percent

Undecided: 13 percent

If approved, the tax increase revenues are designated for affordable housing, parks, neighborhood infrastructure improvements, paving and sidewalks. Do you agree with those priorities?

Yes: 75 percent

No: 18 percent

Undecided: 7 percent

Do you agree with Knox County Commission’s decision to place the sheriff in charge of managing the Juvenile Service Center?

Yes: 36 percent

No: 44 percent

Undecided: 20 percent

Do you agree with Knox County school board’s decision to ban student cell phone use during the instructional day?

Yes: 80 percent

No: 14 percent

Undecided: 5 percent

How concerned are you that the federal policy bill (known as the One Big Beautiful Bill) and other federal budget cuts will reduce local services?

Very concerned: 59 percent

Somewhat concerned: 21 percent

Unconcerned: 19 percent

Undecided: 0 percent (1 vote)

Do you think that the federal policy bill and other federal budget cuts will increase the likelihood of future local tax increases?

Yes: 71 percent

No: 15 percent

Undecided: 14 percent