The RNA works on issues that the membership has decided are important. We form teams and committees to study an issue and determine our position. We then inform our membership, the community and elected and appointed officials as to the conclusions we have reached. The RNA considers facts and documentation to be a very important part of the process.
These are the hot issues that need your attention;
Growth. How do we pay for it? In the summer of 2003, the RNA formed an Impact Fee Team to learn everything we could about what an Impact Fee was and if it was a reasonable answer to the revenue problems that our county was facing because of our rapid rate of growth. Go to Impact Fees Archive to view the results of our study.
In 2004, the County government appointed an Alternative Revenue Task Force to study the possible revenue sources that might help the county pay for additional infrastructure and services made necessary by growth. RNA President Steve Schroeder was asked to participate and shared what we had learned about Impact Fees.
The Task Force looked at many options, but concluded in June 2004 that an Adequate Facilities Tax on new construction, both residential and commercial, was the best alternative. Since the Impact Fee was no longer a viable option, the RNA supported the County Commission's resolution for an Adequate Facilities Tax in order to lessen the burden of growth on the property tax payers.
Early in 2005, the County Commission sent an Adequate Facilities Tax Resolution and an Excise Tax Resolution to the State Legislature for consideration. In Tennessee, local governments must get a Private Act approved by the state legislature in order to impose alternative forms of taxation. The Legislature was reluctant to pass any local revenue bills, so they were all sent to The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) for study.
At the September 13, 2005 meeting of TACIR, Commissioners heard testimony from the public on Local Development Taxes. Those giving testimony were State Representative John Hood, Shelby County Mayor Wharton, a representative of the Tennessee Homebuilders Association, a representative of the National Association of Realtors and RNA President Steve Schroeder.
The TACIR Commissioners conclusion was that local governments should have broader taxing authority without the need for a Private Act. TACIR staff will be compiling more information for the Commissioners for their December 2005 meeting so that they can consider writing legislation to be introduced in the 2006 legislative session.