Rumors circulating around Van Buren County about the possibility of forming a metro government in Van Buren County, something a UT Expert said happens to increase efficiency.
UT County Technical Assistance Service Legal Manager Kristy Brown said a metro government forms when a county and its largest populated city combine to form one acting government. Brown said whether a metro government works is dependent on the local governments.
“It may look good on paper, but if everyone, you know, doesn’t really get along, or doesn’t, you know, depending on your specific kind of government environment, it may not work, and then vice versa,” Brown said. “It may not appear at first glance to be a great idea, but if you’ve got some really good working relationships with folks, it could be a great thing.”
Brown said a metro government can be formed through a charter commission that is established by resolutions approved by the county and city, a private act passed at the state level, or a citizen petition. Brown said a metro government has to be approved at multiple different levels to form.
“Once the charter commission is formed and creates the charter, then the charter itself must also be approved by citizens in an incorporated area with one referendum, and then a second referendum within the most populous city. So it’s certainly not something that can sneak up on anyone.”
Brown said a petition would only need signatures from 10 percent of the voters in the most recent election. Brown said some rules come along with a metro government.
“Well, I mean, you do have to create two different districts, kind of service districts within the county,” Brown said. “You have to designate a general services district, which would kind of be like your more rural area. It would have a lower tax rate because you would have less services, and then you would have an urban services district, which would be in your more populated area, higher level of services, and you know, a higher tax rate.”
Brown said there are only three metro governments in the State of Tennessee: Davidson County/Nashville, Moore County/Lynchburg, and Trousdale County/Hartsville.
A resident asked Van Buren County Commissioners last week whether they were working on a metro government idea. Spencer Mayor Alisa Farmer took to Facebook, accusing some in county government of talking about the idea without talking to Spencer officials first.
