Each year, Metro Nashville Public Works has needed to use tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money to cleanup graffiti that has been placed around town.
"It can cost anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000 a year just in the supplies and labor to cleanup graffiti," Jenna Smith, public information officer for Public Works, said of the crime that has been considered vandalism.
Crews have been able to use pressure washers, soda blasters (which use baking soda), and old-fashion paint brushes and rollers to clean up graffiti, but the costs build up quickly.
"We're always looking at what is the least costly, most environmentally friendly, most efficient way to clean it up," Smith explained.
In the 2015 fiscal year, Public Works received 146 requests for graffiti removal, which was about average.
"You wish citizens had more pride in their community," Smith said of the vandals who spread graffiti. "It just takes away from beautification projects that we could be doing."
If the city didn't have to deal with graffiti throughout Nashville, taxpayer dollars could be spent on planting trees, repairing sidewalks, and other city-improvement projects.
"People that live in Nashville love Nashville. Tourists that come to Nashville love Nashville. We want the experience to be clean and beautiful," Smith explained.
Anyone who has spotted graffiti around town has been encouraged to reach out to Metro Public Works by phone at 615-862-8750 or through their online customer service request form found by clicking here.
Metro Public Works has also been encouraging neighborhoods to work together to beautify the places they live.
Starting in October, Nashville's first Fall Green & Clean event has been planned where people will be encouraged to organize cleanups or planting events.
For more information on Fall Green & Clean and the resources the city can provide you to help in cleanup efforts, you can visit the event's website by clicking here.
