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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Representative Monty Fritts (R-Dist. 32-Kingston) has proposed a bill which would prevent local municipalities from taking any actions that would affect tax obligations or costs for real property owners outside the municipality’s corporate boundaries without the approval of the county governing agency.
As defined by Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) 67-5-501(10)(A & B), “real property” is defined to include land, buildings, other permanent improvements to the land, houses, homesteads, and even machinery and equipment attached to land.
HB0365 would also require that membership of joint economic and community development boards be proportionally representative of the citizenry over which the board exercises jurisdiction.
According to the text, “at least ninety percent (90%) of a county’s population represented by a board created under this section must be proportionately represented on a per capita basis by the members of such board.”
Though such boards will have until July 1, 2029, to come into full compliance with the law, the bill specifies that as current board members’ terms expire, new members, along with satisfying all other criteria for election or appointment, are only considered qualified, “if their election or appointment revises the board’s representation of a county’s population in a manner that incrementally brings the board into compliance,” with the 90% representation stipulation.
The percentage requirements will be determined by a county’s population, inclusive of the population of each municipality within the county, and would be readjusted every 10 years following the release of the most current decennial US Census.
Theoretically, this piece of legislation would ultimately help shield county residents from paying an undue share, through tax obligations, fees, or other costs, for local municipal economic development projects that affect them but in which they may not have had a voice.
Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Good!!