There is a Metro Council Meeting tonight… An agenda has been provided, and you can watch the meeting live via channel 3 or stream live on your electronic devices. 

Budget Season is Heating Up

As I mentioned in my last newsletter, here is the link for the 2021 Budget Book proposed by the mayor. Schedule time to read the book, as this is a 690-page document. 

I've received several questions regarding the budget timeline (or when is the budget vote?), and I wanted to answer those questions. 

• The mayor presented his budget to the council on April 28.
• The budget book was sent to the Council on Friday, May 8.
• Council began hosting public budget hearings for each department on Monday, May 11, and will continue this week.
• Substitute budgets were due by Wednesday following the Friday we received the mayor's budget book.
• A budget has not been finalized, and five substitute budgets have been filed and proposed.
  • We will not be able to see these substitutes until the first meeting in June.
• Here's a brief analysis of the five substitute budgets...
  • 1) Mayor Cooper's budget includes a $1.00 increase in tax revenue and doesn't call for any city employee furloughs or layoffs. It also doesn't give any raises that have been promised to the city employees.
  • 2) CM Mendes' substitute has not been shared publicly, and we will see his budget when the agenda is released for the first council meeting in June. If he does provide his alternate budget prior, I will follow up with you.
  • 3) In CM Glover's substitute budget, we may see a decrease from the mayor's $1 increase, but he still proposes an increase in taxes of 20% or less. 
  • 4) CM Benedict agrees with the mayor's budget but sees an opportunity to increase from $1.00 to $1.16 with taxes to include the raises promised for teachers and city employees.
  • 5) CM O'Connell, similar to CM Glover, would like to lessen the blow of a $1.00 increase to a more modest $0.37 tax increase. He also cited using a federal government opportunity for funds to close the gap in lost revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Moving forward, these are the only substitute budgets that will be considered. Council members have the opportunity to file amendments to the details in the budget (where dollars are spent and how in each department's budget).
• The Council will vote on the final budget in June - the last meeting in June.
  • There will be a public comment period at the first meeting in June.

Meeting with the Mayor

On Friday, I met with Mayor Cooper to discuss how the $121M the city has received from the federal government for COVID-19 will be spent and I advocated for the much-needed capital investments needed in District 21.

During our meeting, we discussed how the fallout and impact of COVID-19 could have a long-term effect on several Nashvillians. For instance, many companies have suspended, not forgiven, payments due during the start of the coronavirus pandemic. This means these dollars will still be expected to be paid from individuals that lost jobs or income due to the pandemic. Also, these families may have not recovered from this loss of revenue. My request was for some of the $121M to be used to directly help our constituents in the future. The mayor mentioned a few other options that he was thinking about using these funds for which include, hazard pay for first responders, overtime costs for city employees, new incurred costs for the Metro health department, and telelearning opportunities for MNPS students. He didn't confirm anything as of now, but I am working to learn more and find ways you have an opportunity to for relief with these funds.

Secondly, I discussed capital investments for District 21. I have been working with the city and the mayor's administration for several months, prior to the tornado and COVID-19, to receive capital improvements that are not listed in the capital spending plan. Some of these improvements were moving forward prior to March, and I am working to make sure that a few of these investments will happen in the coming year. I've requested projects such as paving in alleyways and roadways. Others have been adding more lighting in areas, this requires budget spending from both NES and Public Works. Lastly, traffic calming has been on my list as well. Many of you have asked for traffic calming in your neighborhoods and it's definitely needed in many areas. Please continue to send your thoughts and areas you see improvements and I will continue to advocate for you.

Tornado Relief 

FEMA has included a grace period for registration for the March 3rd tornado. You can call them at 1(800)-621-3362 or visit Fema.Gov. Also, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and several organizations rooted in North Nashville are helping with disaster and emergency relief from organizations that have received funds. Here are a few that are working now... Gideon's Army, Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship (IMF), Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership, Inc. (J.U.M.P.), Lee Chapel AME Church, New Covenant Christian Church, Greater Heights Missionary Baptist Church, NAACP Nashville, Northwest Family YMCA, Catholic Charities of Tennessee - McGruder Family Resource Center, Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University Foundation, Rebuilding Together Nashville, The Equity Alliance, and Urban League of Middle Tennessee. These organizations jumped in on the ground floor and have committed to working until individuals in our communities are back to whole and better. If you or someone you know are in need of relief, of any kind, from the tornado, please reach out to one or several of these organizations to find the help you are looking for.

What to expect tonight:

RS2020-318 - This resolution is accepting $121M from the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to help municipalities recover from the financial burden caused by the pandemic. There is an amendment that requires the finance office and mayor's administration to submit a plan to the council prior to any expenditures of these funds.

RS2020-328 - Is a resolution declaring the intent for the city to not incentivize any companies for economic development for a period of one year. Meaning, we will not approve any for-profit incentive funds unless it pertains to a few affordable housing opportunities within the one-year period.

BL2020-224 - This bill is on second reading, and will require a 90-day written notice to residential tenants of the sale of a property prior to the closing. CM Hausser has an amendment that will be discussed on the floor that may pass that will amend the bill to be a written notice 90-days prior to the intent to sell and a five-day notice of a purchase agreement moving towards a closing day.

There have been many attempts to look at fee structures during this tax season. The city has several areas, where fees have been a limited cost for companies, organizations, and individuals. BL2020-235 begins to look at the fee structure and increase fees for special events throughout the city. These fees will be based on expected attendance.

We have been discussing Substitute BL2019-78 since the beginning of the term. This bill would require non-owner occupied short-term rentals to have a minimum distance from schools, churches, daycares, and parks.