District 2 Councilman DeCosta Hastings has pledged to oppose any new property tax increase requests during his next term in the Metro Council.

“Just like this year when I was opposed to a property tax increase and voted so, the proposed property tax increase bill would fail,” he said. “I will continue to oppose all property tax increases during my next four years in the Metro Council.

“My opponent in this runoff council race supported the 16% property tax increase. My neighbors cannot afford a property tax increase. Many are on fixed incomes or retired. I will continue to oppose any property tax increase.”

According to Hastings, this puts him at odds with his challenger, Kyonztè Toombs, who he says has only lived in her present home in District 2 for three years.

“I am going to always promote improvements for District 2,” he said. “But as several candidates for mayor pointed out: ‘We need to use the money generated by tourism to help our neighbors—not increase property taxes.’”