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Public comment opposes CBID budget funding THP officers amid profiling concerns; committee defers CBID budget
Summary
A public commenter told the committee that funding in Bill 2026‑1963 would pay THP officers who, he alleged, work with ICE/CBP and have engaged in racially profiled arrests; the committee later deferred the Central Business Improvement District budget for one meeting.
During the Budget & Finance Committee public‑comment period, Manion Hall spoke in opposition to Bill 2026‑1963, the FY2027 budget for the Central Business Improvement District. Hall said local tax assessments have been used to pay off‑duty Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) officers assigned to downtown and alleged THP officers have worked with federal agencies and been involved in racially profiled arrests.
"THP…work with ICE. They work with CBP," Hall said, and added that local reporting documented stops and arrests he described as racially profiling. Addressing SEBID leadership, he said their statements about oversight were inconsistent and accused them of dishonesty.
The committee later considered item 4, Resolution 2026‑1963 (the Central Business Improvement District budget). Councilmember Cooper moved a one‑meeting deferral to coordinate review with a Gulch Business Improvement District ordinance on second reading; the motion to defer carried by voice vote.
No committee member offered a formal response to Hall’s allegations during public comment; the transcript records the public commenter’s statements and the committee’s procedural action to defer the related budget item.
