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Trousdale County adopts wheel tax for jail funding; residents told they may seek referendum
Summary
The county commission adopted Ordinance 344 (wheel tax) on third reading, 16–1, after public comment raised concerns about impacts on farm families; county staff explained citizens have 30 days to file a petition to place the tax on the November ballot.
The Trousdale County Commission approved Ordinance 344-2026-06, a wheel tax intended to begin building funds for a new jail, on third and final reading by a 16–1 vote.
Public commenters during the hearing urged commissioners to reject the tax. Carla Really Atkins, a District 2 resident, said she owns seven vehicles for farm work and opposed the wheel tax as unfair and premature given continuing uncertainty about the jail site and final construction cost. An emotional resident asked what would happen if the county simply refused the state mandate, calling the tax an unfair burden.
Commission debate focused on method and timing. Commissioner Chris said one reason he supported the wheel tax was that ‘‘this allows us to start socking money away and . . . will be less that we will have to borrow when the time comes.’’ Commissioner David added that the state has told the county it must build a jail and that ‘‘the least amount that anyone has said that this jail's going to cost us is $20 million.’’
Clerk and counsel then explained the referendum process: attorney Steve Paxton told the room that citizens have 30 days from the meeting to file a completed petition (deadline July 22) to place the question on the November 3 general election ballot; the petition must be submitted as a single document and meet a high signature verification threshold.
The ordinance passed on electronic roll call 16 yes, 1 no, 3 absent. The commission made no immediate changes to the jail plan; commissioners said more information about site, costs and financing will continue to be discussed in future meetings.
Next steps: county staff will publish instructions for ballot-petition filings and continue budget planning related to jail financing. A successful petition would put the wheel tax before voters on Nov. 3.
