A political dispute between the Tennessee comptroller and the Rutherford County property assessor could impact rent for thousands of families across the state. The dispute centers on how rental homes should be classified for tax purposes as residential property or commercial property. According to Rutherford County Property Assessor Rob Mitchell, rent can be as much as 60 percent higher when a rental home is assessed as commercial instead of residential. Mitchell argues that these homes should not be classified as residential, raising costs that can be passed on to renters. Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower accused Mitchell of using his own opinion to assess property based on his own, not the law. The case is currently under appeal in the courts and at the State Board of Equalization.