A group of Metro Council members is again challenging Mayor David Briley's proposed budget with an alternative option that calls for a 52.5-cent increase to Nashville's property tax rate in a move to fill a budget revenue shortfall.

The proposal — led for the second year in a row by At-large Council member Bob Mendes with early backing from co-sponsor Council member Anthony Davis — looks to send more funding to Nashville schools and employee raises.

The plan would increase the city's combined property tax rate by 16.6%, meaning the rate would rise from $3.155 to $3.68 per $100 of assessed value in the Urban Services District and $2.755 to $3.28 in the General Services District.

For an owner of a home appraised at the value of $250,000, they would then pay about $328 more per year in property taxes.

The increase would generate about $162.75 million for the city budget and be Nashville's first property tax rate increase since 2012.

In a blog post Tuesday, Mendes said a "better budget for Nashville" would provide better pay for school employees, allow the city to pay off debts without one-time property sales to fill a budget hole and also give Metro a "small cushion" to get through the next two years.

The next scheduled property value reassessment is in 2021.

NASHVILLE TAXES: How to calculate Nashville property tax, with or without proposed 50-cent increase

"The conventional wisdom in the courthouse is that the administration will propose a property tax increase next year — after the election," Mendes wrote in his blog. "The administration’s proposed budget squeezes employees on pay and citizens on services in the meantime. It deepens problems when it should be creating capacity. It worries about opposition when it should be inspiring change."

If his proposed tax increase is approved, Mendes said it would:

Increase funding for MNPS from $28 million to $55 million

Pay for anticipated new debt obligations

Not rely on collecting a $30 million one-time payment from Nashville's private parking deal or the $11.5 million from selling the district energy system

Replenish the city’s fund balance

Allow for reasonable employee raises next year

Allow for basic 1.9% inflation without having to continue department cuts into FY21

Briley opposes tax hike

Briley proposed a $2.33 billion budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year earlier in May that, again, does not rely on a property tax increase.

His budget would deliver just a $28.2 million increase for the school district, which asked for $76.7 million in new dollars, with a recommendation for it to fund a 3% pay increase for school employees.

The budget would also deliver — albeit a year late — on a 3% raise worth $23.3 million to Metro employees and also proposes that all full-time employees in the city's general pay plan make at least $15 per hour, a 2% open range and salary step increase for eligible workers.

This, however, does not apply to Metro school employees.

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Briley's administration said Tuesday it does not support the alternative budget.

"As Mayor Briley has said many times, we do not believe this is the right time for a property tax increase," Thomas Mulgrew, the mayor's spokesperson said in a statement. "With revenues up this fiscal year, we do not feel it’s right to further burden the taxpayers before we exhaust every possible revenue stream."

Historically, property tax adjustments initiate from Nashville mayors, not the council. Increasing the rate ahead of reappraisal has been the norm for most of Metro's 55-year history.

The current rate is the lowest rate ever since Metro consolidated in 1963 and is the lowest rate of any major county in Tennessee.

Calculate your property tax below:

"We are thankful to Council Members Bob Mendes and Anthony Davis for proposing a budget that addresses the core revenue problem, fulfills commitments to Metro employees and delivers desperately needed funding for our schools," Brad Rayson, president of SEIU Local 205 said in a statement.

The average support staff employee in Metro Schools, he said, earns about $24,000 a year - nowhere near enough to get by in Nashville.

"This proposal is a great step toward making the investment in our public schools match the growth we've experienced in the city," Rayson said.

Metro Council narrowly rejected Mendes' proposed 50-cent property tax increase last year with then-acting Vice Mayor Sheri Weiner breaking a tie.

Instead, the council approved a $2.3 billion spending plan put forward by Council member Tanaka Vercher— who serves as Metro's Budget and Finance Committee chair. Her budget reallocated a modest $2 million from Briley's original "status quo" budget last year to provide a small bump for public schools.

Metro Council voted last week to move forward budget talks. Mendes said he will place his alternative budget for second reading on June 4. Metro Council will vote on a final budget on June 18.

Yihyun Jeong covers politics in Nashville for USA TODAY NETWORK - TENNESSEE. Reach her at yjeong@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @yihyun_jeong.