Annex bill advances despite concerns
A measure to allow city residents the chance to remove themselves from those cities cleared a key Senate hurdle this week but doesn’t look likely to make it to Gov. Bill Haslam this legislative session.
The measure was delayed in the Senate after a contentious debate last week between Sens. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, and Bo Watson, R-Hixson, the sponsor of the bill. The debate raised questions about whether the bill could make it out of the Senate State and Local Government Committee, but the panel approved the measure on Tuesday.
The companion bill in the House hasn’t been discussed in subcommittee, a sign the legislation won’t be discussed this year, the first of the current twoyear Tennessee General Assembly term.
The measure deals with what is known as de-annexation, a process where residents can leave a municipality. Cities across Tennessee have grown in recent decades by expanding their borders through annexation. Taxes for those residents go up, but so do city services such as increased police and fire protection and sewer services.
But critics say residents don’t always have a say and cities haven’t fulfilled their promises to add services.
Ketron and Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, both filed amendments that Watson said he doesn’t like, but agreed to continue with the legislation. Watson has pushed the issue for several years.
“I think the amendments have created a challenge for people who want to deannex,” Watson said.