MURFREESBORO, TN - Rutherford County Assessor of Property Rob Mitchell has released updated figures for the county’s property tax roll, noting only minimal changes for tax years 2024 and 2025. According to Mitchell, the adjustments reflect his office’s commitment to fairness and accuracy in property assessments, as required by Tennessee law.
For 2024, the original tax roll stood at $289,718,404, with a total change of just over $206,000, representing a 0.071 percent increase. In 2025, the original roll was $309,877,971, with a slight decrease of $16,829, or 0.005 percent. Mitchell emphasized that these small shifts demonstrate the diligence of his staff in maintaining compliance with state regulations. He also reminded residents that while his office appraises property, the County Commission sets the tax rate, which currently stands at $1.8762 per $100 of assessed value.
Yet, the announcement comes against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny. The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office recently found a 25 percent error rate in a sample of property records, issuing a formal notice of noncompliance and setting a deadline for corrections. Rutherford County is the only county in Tennessee to face such a determination in the past five years. District Attorney General Jennings Jones subsequently requested the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to look into allegations of deleted log files and other irregularities within the Assessor’s Office.
The County Commission has also voiced frustration over the lack of direct communication from Mitchell regarding the findings. Commissioner Joshua James noted that while the Comptroller presented its case, the Assessor himself has not been given the opportunity to address the charges. In response, the Commission voted to hire an independent third party to review the assessor’s work and verify both the Comptroller’s claims and Mitchell’s defense.
Mitchell has maintained through written statements that many of the flagged errors are not valid and that his office completed corrections ahead of the state’s deadline. He argues that the cost of compliance outweighed the additional tax revenue generated, stressing that his priority remains fairness for taxpayers rather than meeting arbitrary timelines.
With investigations ongoing and public confidence at stake, the situation underscores the importance of transparency in property assessments. For now, the Assessor’s office continues to provide updated figures, while state officials and investigators work to ensure accountability in one of the county’s most critical functions.
