Sumner County directs legal outreach after city of Hendersonville falls behind on commercial adequate‑facilities tax

Sumner County officials pressed the City of Hendersonville to account for a backlog of unpaid adequate‑facilities taxes tied to commercial permits and directed county counsel to reach out to city officials to resolve the matter.

County staff told the committee that while residential adequate‑facilities collections have been paid, commercial collections have not. Staff cited a commercial total of $325,407 in unpaid fees that the county believes is owed for permits issued after the county sent formal notice in February 2024. Staff said certified letters and follow‑up correspondence are in the record, and that Hendersonville acknowledged receipt of county correspondence in February 2026 but had not fully remitted the outstanding commercial amount.

Commissioners discussed options ranging from further negotiations and a joint meeting to potential legal remedies. The chair asked county legal to prepare an invitation and response packet for the city and to present a summary to the legislative committee in April. A motion directing the law director to request a Hendersonville representative to meet with the county and to respond to the county's inquiries was approved by the committee.

Staff said other municipalities have brought their accounts current and identified Hendersonville as the lone remaining city with outstanding commercial collections. Commissioners emphasized preference for a negotiated resolution but noted a lawsuit remained an option if the city did not cooperate.

The committee voted to request a formal response and to schedule city representation for further discussion; the county’s legal office will draft the invitation and collect updated figures for the committee packet.