A full house greeted Gun Barrel City officials this week for the first of a series of scheduled town hall meetings on the proposed property tax.

Mayor Jim Braswell said city officials will be on hand every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. until the election Nov. 4 when voters will decide whether to raise the tax from zero to $0.2599 per $100 valuation.

Braswell told the crowd of residents and weekenders on Sept. 11 that the city could not provide the type of road improvements and police and fire protection needed on sales tax revenue alone anymore.

"It's a three-letter word I hate to hear," Braswell said of the proposed tax. "On the other hand, what I want to see done for this city that you tell me you want can't be done on sales tax revenue."

The mayor noted there are 35 empty store fronts in Gun Barrel City, and those business failures represent declining sales tax revenue.

The audience voiced significant criticism to the proposal, complaining that city officials were asking for too much for a beginning tax rate.

Under the proposal, a home with a appraised value of $100,000 after homestead and other exemptions for seniors and disabilities would be taxed $259.90 annually.

After the meeting, Braswell acknowledged it would be a "hard fight" to get voters to approve the new tax, but he expressed optimism residents will want to see improvements to the city.