McMinnville residents hoping to avoid the double whammy of a county tax increase and city tax increase in the same year were dealt a crippling blow Thursday night.

The city's Finance Committee has recommended passing a 13-cent tax increase. That recommendation goes to the full McMinnville Board of Mayor and Aldermen for approval.

The city tax increase proposal comes a month after the county passed a 28-cent tax increase that impacts everyone who owns property in Warren County. The city increase will only affect property in McMinnville.

Finance Committee chair Everett Brock had previously vowed there would be no city tax increase this year. City finances have been stretched thin due to major projects, most notably the decision to spend $9.2 million to expand and renovate the Civic Center.

It could have been worse. A city tax increase of 25 cents was mentioned Thursday night before officials decided to back that down to 13 cents.

See Sunday's edition of the Standard for more details.