Rutherford County steering committee backs resolution urging $100 real‑estate recording fee and larger county share

Rutherford County's steering committee voted to approve a resolution asking the Tennessee General Assembly to authorize a $100 fee for publicly recording documents that evidence transfers of real property and to return a larger share of related state collections to counties.

The resolution asks the state to amend existing law so counties receive more of the proceeds collected from recording transfers. Committee members said the revenue would be used for infrastructure rather than recurring personnel costs.

The resolution, as presented to the committee, described the proposal as a $100 recording fee charged on documents that evidence transfers of real property. The measure also requested that state law be amended so counties receive a greater portion of the money the state now collects on such transactions.

A roll call was held after a motion and second were made; the transcript records affirmative votes from Commissioner Kush, Commissioner Beverly, Commissioner McAdoo, Commissioner Rather, Commissioner Johnson, Commissioner Reid and Chairman Harris. The tally recorded in the meeting transcript was seven "yes" votes and no opposing votes or abstentions. The motion was approved according to the roll call recorded in the meeting transcript.

The committee's lobbyist later identified House Bill 649 as the related proposal in the Legislature that would create a real‑estate transfer revenue stream and allow proceeds to be used only for infrastructure (not recurring personnel costs). The lobbyist said County staff estimate the bill would create roughly $9,000,000 in recurring revenue for the county if enacted.

The committee did not include additional implementing language in the adopted resolution; the resolution asks the state to make the statutory change. The transcript does not record a referral to a specific county department for implementation steps.