§ 67-6-706 — Referendum

(a) (1) Any ordinance or resolution of a county or of a city or town levying the tax under authority of this part shall not become operative until approved in an election herein provided in the county or the city or town, as the case may be. (2) The county election commission shall hold an election on the question pursuant to § 2-3-204 , providing options to vote "FOR" or "AGAINST" the ordinance or resolution, after the receipt of a certified copy of such ordinance or resolution, and a majority vote of those voting in the election shall determine whether the ordinance or resolution is to be operative. (3) If the majority vote is for the ordinance or resolution, it shall be deemed to be operative on the date that the county election commission makes its official canvass of the election returns; provided, however, that no tax shall be collected under any such ordinance or resolution until the first day of a month occurring at least thirty (30) days after the operative date. (b) (1) If a county legislative body adopts a resolution to levy the tax at the same rate that is operative in a city or town in the county, the election under this section to determine whether the county tax is to be operative shall be open only to the voters residing outside of such city or town. If the county tax is at a higher rate than the rate of the city or town tax, the election shall also be open to the voters of the city or town. (2) (A) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(2)(B), should any county or city or town hold an election under this section, and the ordinance or resolution is rejected, no other election thereon shall be held by such county, city or town for a period of six (6) months from the date of the holding of such prior election. (B) In counties having a population of not more than seven hundred fifty thousand (750,000) nor less than seven hundred thousand (700,000) and not more than two hundred seventy-eight thousand (278,000) and not less than two hundred fifty thousand (250,000), according to the federal census of 1970 or any subsequent federal census, in case of rejection, the limitation period on subsequent elections shall be one (1) year from the date of the holding of such prior election.

Legislative History

Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 285, s 2, eff. 4/30/2021. Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 157, s 1, eff. 4/23/2019. Acts 1963, ch. 329, § 5; 1967, ch. 113, § 1; 1968, ch. 488, § 3; 1971, ch. 83, § 1; 1972, ch. 455, § 1; 1982, ch. 591, § 1; T.C.A., § 67-3053; Acts 1985, ch. 234, § 1; 1998, ch. 618, § 3; 2003 , ch. 357, § 67; 2004, ch. 959, §§ 26, 68; 2005, ch. 311, §§ 1, 2; 2007 , ch. 602, §§ 51, 166; 2009 , ch. 530, § 35; 2011 , ch. 72, § 1; 2013 , ch. 480, § 1; 2015 , ch. 273, § 3.