Nashville Mayor's massive transit referendum to appear on May ballot

NASHVILLE — The city’s Metro Council voted 34 to two in favor of adding Mayor Megan Barry’s transit referendum, which would raise four taxes, including the sales tax, to pay for a large mass transit plan that is anchored by the implementation of a new light rail system, to the May 1 ballot, The Tennessean reports.

The council, however, tweaked the referendum language to list both the transit proposal's present-day cost of $5.4 billion, as well as the estimated amount of long-term revenue needed for the project, $8.95 billion. The mayor's office had lobbied for only the lower amount to go on the ballot.

The council’s action sets the stage for what will be one of the most momentous public referendums in Nashville history and continues a campaign that’s already turned heated in recent weeks between supporters and detractors, according to the report. For the full story, click here.