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A resolution requesting Mayor John Cooper, to the extent the Fiscal Year 2021 actual revenues exceed budgeted revenues, to provide funding for new public safety employees and for personnel to serve as project managers to assist the development community with navigating Metro’s approval and inspection process.
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WHEREAS, in June 2020, the Metropolitan Council approved a combined property tax increase of $1.066 per $100 of assessed value in the Urban Services District (USD) and $1.033 per $100 of assessed value in the General Services District (GSD), amounting to a 34% increase in the USD and a 37% increase in the GSD; and
WHEREAS, part of the justification for the large tax increase was an anticipated reduction of $161 million in sales tax revenue as a result of the March 2020 tornado and the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, despite these dire financial predictions, it appears that tax revenues for the Metropolitan Government (“Metro”) will end up being substantially higher than projected; and
WHEREAS, according to information recently provided by the Department of Finance, local option sales tax collections year to date are $65.3 million higher than budgeted, and taxes and permit fees are more than $12 million over what was budgeted; and
WHEREAS, both the Nashville Fire Department and the Police Department submitted requests for additional necessary public safety personnel as part of their Fiscal Year 2022 operating budget requests to Mayor Cooper; and
WHEREAS, the Fire Department / Emergency Medical Services has requested 153 positions for fire and EMS operations with an estimated cost of $19.3 million, and the police department has requested 160 new positions with an estimated cost of $16.2 million; and
WHEREAS, the development community has expressed frustration to councilmembers that there are serious delays in Metro’s development plans review and inspection process, which is hampering the growth and development in Davidson County needed to increase Metro’s tax base; and
WHEREAS, project manager liaisons employed by Metro for developments in excess of $1 million, and in consultation with the administration, would greatly help the development community navigate Metro’s plans review and inspection process and would speed up project construction; and
WHEREAS, to the extent there is an expected revenue surplus for Fiscal Year 2021, such excess should be allocated to fund these public safety and development project manager positions in Fiscal Year 2022.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. The Council of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County hereby requests Mayor John Cooper, to the extent the Fiscal Year 2021 actual revenues exceed budgeted revenues, to provide funding for new public safety employees and for personnel to serve as project managers to assist the development community with navigating Metro’s approval and inspection process.
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.