GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Goodlettsville voters will decide in November whether to raise the city sales tax by half a percentage point, a change that would make the rate on the Davidson County side of the city the highest in Tennessee. The Board of Commissioners placed the proposal, called the Goodlettsville Investment Act, on the ballot. If approved, the increase would add 50 cents to a $100 purchase and is projected to generate about $3 million a year. The rate would reach 10.25% in the Davidson County portion of Goodlettsville and 9.75% in the Sumner County portion. City officials say the added revenue would support public safety staffing and equipment, sidewalks, possible greenways and pedestrian access improvements. But the proposal does not require the city to spend the money on those priorities, leaving future allocation decisions to city leaders. City Manager Julie High said the city is weighing the sales tax as a way to share costs with visitors and shoppers, rather than relying solely on property taxes paid by residents. About half of Goodlettsville’s sales tax revenue comes from people who live outside the city, she said. “The cost of providing services and the demand for our services has increased at a greater rate than our revenues have,” High said, adding that the city considers a sales tax increase a way to spread the expense among people who shop and dine there. High cited inflation, higher construction costs, aging infrastructure and growing demand for public safety services. Roughly half of the city’s current budget goes to police and fire departments, according to the city manager. Equipment such as fire trucks and the labor needed to respond to calls have become more expensive, she said. The increase would not rule out a property tax hike in the future. High said the city’s property tax rate has increased three times in the past 70 years. Davidson and Sumner county leaders could have pursued corresponding increases as part of the proposal but chose not to, according to the report. Nearby Hendersonville, White House and Portland have adopted increases that brought their sales tax rates to 9.75%. Early voting for the November general election, including the Goodlettsville referendum, begins Wednesday, Oct. 14.