Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell on Wednesday declared his controversial transit referendum a “great opportunity” for the city after it was unanimously approved by the Metro Council, with every lawmaker present voting to allow Nashvillians to vote in November on whether to fund the $6.93 billion transportation package called illegal by critics.
After the transit referendum was approved by the Metro Nashville City Council with unanimous support from the lawmakers present, O’Connell declared his approval in a statement, noting the final decision will go to Nashville residents in November.
O’Connell stated the unanimous support “puts Nashville on the doorstep of a great opportunity,” and again cited the purported community input his referendum received.
The mayor also claimed his plan “has the potential to unlock as much as $1.4 billion in state and federal funding,” and restated his argument that his transit plans would provide “[s]idewalks, signals, service, and safety” for the citizens of Nashville.
The transportation referendum passed on Tuesday with the support of every present member of the Metro Nashville Council, but The Tennessee Star learned that at least one member, Councilwoman Courtney Johnston, was present but left the proceedings prior to the transit vote.
Johnston is currently challenging Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) in the Republican primary for his seat in the U.S. House, and has argued she will be a more effective, conservative alternative.
Nashville Tea Party founder Ben Cunningham argued in April the transit referendum is illegal under the 2017 IMPROVE Act, which allows municipalities in Tennessee to raise money for the purpose of transit systems, including buses, but not for the various projects O’Connell has planned.
According to Cunningham, the IMPROVE Act does not give O’Connell the authority to include the 86 miles of new sidewalks and 600 new traffic signals promised by the mayor. Under the law, Cunningham argues, O’Connell could only pursue the 38 miles of “around-the-clock” bus lines promised in the referendum.
Additionally, while O’Connell has claimed his transit referendum will be funded with a half-cent sales tax, Cunningham warned that his plan depends on expiring federal funding and could result in increased property taxes down the line.
Branding the referendum a “greendoggle,” Cunningham argued during an appearance on the Michael Patrick Leahy Show earlier this year, “So when people vote in 2024 on the transit referendum, they’ll actually be voting for two tax increases. They’ll be voting for the sales tax increase, and then they’ll be voting for the 2025 property tax increase because you know what 2025 is? It’s a reappraisal year.”
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Freddie O’Connell” by Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell.
Surely hope that the voters have enough common sense to stop this disaster from happening. But I am no confident in that. Just look who they elected to the city council and for mayor. Insanity prevails in Nashville.
Great opportunity for grift, graft and waste.