§ 67-1-401 — Composition of boards

(a) (1) The county legislative body of each county shall, at the April session of each even year, from the different sections of the county, elect, for a term of two (2) years, five (5) freeholders and taxpayers who shall constitute a county board of equalization. (2) In any county having a population greater than nine hundred thousand (900,000), according to the 2010 federal census or any subsequent federal census, the county board of equalization shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, consisting of thirteen (13) freeholders and taxpayers, of which three (3) members shall be appointed by the county commission or governing board, four (4) members shall be appointed by the city council or governing board of the largest municipality, and one (1) member each shall be appointed by the city councils or governing boards of each of the six (6) largest remaining cities having a population greater than ten thousand (10,000). (3) In counties having one (1) or more cities with a population exceeding sixty thousand (60,000), according to the federal census of 1970 or any subsequent federal census, two (2) of the members of the board shall be appointed by the governing body of the largest city. (4) In counties having one (1) or more cities with a population of not less than ten thousand (10,000) nor more than sixty thousand (60,000), one (1) member of the board shall be appointed by the city council or governing body of each of the two (2) largest cities with a population in excess of ten thousand (10,000), within the county. (5) In counties that have no city with a population of ten thousand (10,000) or more, one (1) member of the board shall be appointed by the city council or governing board of the largest city or town in the counties. (6) (A) In a county with a metropolitan form of government, the charter for the metropolitan government may provide for the creation of a metropolitan board of equalization consisting of either five (5) or seven (7) members. Appointments to such board shall include members selected from minorities, as well as members of the sex that historically has been under-represented on the board of equalization. This subdivision (a)(5)(A) shall not apply to such counties having a population of less than ten thousand (10,000), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census. (B) If a county with a metropolitan form of government having a population of not less than four hundred seventy thousand (470,000) nor more than five hundred thousand (500,000), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, creates a board of equalization consisting of seven (7) members, at least two (2) of the members of the board shall be appointed consistent with subdivision (a)(6)(A). (b) If the county legislative body fails to elect, the county mayor shall appoint the members of the board and shall also fill such vacancies as the vacancies occur. (c) (1) Magistrates or state, municipal or county legislative or executive officials or employees shall all be ineligible for positions on a county board of equalization, but this prohibition does not apply to persons who receive only compensation in lieu of expenses or a per diem payment for services. No member of any county board of equalization shall represent any taxpayer in an assessment appeal. This subsection (c) does not apply to municipal officials or employees whose city, located in a county with a population of eight hundred thousand (800,000) or more, according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census, is not eligible to appoint a member to the board. (2) (A) Notwithstanding other provisions of this subsection (c), except in counties having a population of more than eighty-five thousand (85,000) but less than eighty-six thousand (86,000), according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census, state employees may be appointed to the county board of equalization, if their employment responsibilities do not include property assessments, except that in counties having a population of more than eight hundred thousand (800,000), according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census, state employees shall not be appointed to the county board of equalization. (B) No state employee serving on the county board of equalization shall be compensated by the state for time served on the county board, except that an otherwise eligible employee may use accumulated annual leave to serve on the county board with approval of the employee's supervisor. (d) In addition to its regular appointments under this section, an appointing authority may designate one (1) or more alternates, and the board of equalization chair may call upon an alternate to sit for a regular member who becomes unavailable for a particular hearing due to disqualification or other reason. A duly appointed alternate shall be sworn in the same manner as regular members, and any action taken by a duly appointed alternate shall be as effective as if taken by the unavailable individual.

Legislative History

Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 231, s 1, eff. 4/28/2017. Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 209, Secs.s 1, s 2 eff. 4/23/2013. Acts 1973, ch. 226, § 2; impl. am. Acts 1978, ch. 934, §§ 7, 16, 36; Acts 1982, ch. 832, § 1; T.C.A., § 67-251; Acts 1985, ch. 115, § 1; 1988, ch. 793, § 1; 1991, ch. 419, § 1; 1992, ch. 866, § 1; 1997 , ch. 419, § 1; 2000, ch. 957, §§ 1, 2; 2003 , ch. 90, § 2; 2003 , ch. 363, § 1; 2006, ch. 734, § 1.