Shelby County committee votes to seek 180-day moratorium on housing-related pilot agreements

The Shelby County Pilot Reform Committee voted to amend and advance a draft resolution requesting a 180-day moratorium on new housing-related pilot agreements and extensions and to forward the revised draft to the Shelby County Commission for review.

The amended language removes the phrase “affordable housing” and replaces it with “housing” so the moratorium would apply to pilots and pilot extensions related to housing generally, the committee decided in a voice vote after a motion to amend was moved by Cardell Orrin and seconded by Austin Harrison.

The committee’s legislative counsel, Marcy Ingram, said the final draft combined three earlier drafts and added two substantive changes: a provision allowing either the assessor’s office or the commission to issue subpoenas if boards do not voluntarily turn over records, and clearer language on which active pilots are being recorded. “Either the assessor's office or the commission could issue a subpoena to the boards that did not voluntarily turn over their information,” Ingram said.

Committee members discussed scope and workload. Janice Banks, who will staff the committee, cautioned against limiting the resolution to “affordable housing,” noting a statutory threshold: “Affordable housing only comes in if there are more than 50 units being built,” she said, arguing that many housing developments are not labeled “affordable” even when statutory affordable-housing requirements apply.

Commissioner Brooks, who convened the committee, said the work will be substantial and likely extend beyond 180 days. “We're losing over hundred and $80,000,000, to pilots from education,” Brooks said, arguing that pilot incentives have reduced county revenue available for schools and other services.

Committee members and staff outlined how the review will proceed. Administrator Bailey has put together a research team to collect pilot documents and to work with the assessor’s and trustee’s offices. Trustee Regina Newman said the assessor’s office could help by creating a public portal for documents received via subpoena or request. Austin Harrison asked about public access during the moratorium: “I'm interested in, during this 180 day moratorium, what does public access of the records that the research team processes and finds look like,” he said; the committee agreed to explore portal options and access schedules with staff before the next meeting.

Members raised process questions: Commissioner Lowry asked who will review an estimated “532 and counting” pilots and whether 180 days is sufficient; speakers warned the work will require dedicated staff time. Cardell Orrin said he will help organize and coordinate committee work and act as a resource to members.

Public comment included recommendations to reduce pilot value and term. Joe Kent urged lowering typical abatements and limiting term lengths, saying changes could cut pilot-related tax relief substantially.

After Ingram cleans the two identified drafting points, the committee will submit the revised resolution to the Shelby County Commission’s committee for consideration. The panel set a follow-up meeting for Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. and named Janice Banks as the committee’s staff resource.

The committee approved the amendment by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.