Nashville Mayor files bill for May transportation referendum

NASHVILLE — Mayor Megan Barry filed long-awaited legislation that would trigger a public referendum in Nashville on a $5.4 billion transit plan, setting up two months of Metro Council debate on whether to add the measure to the May ballot, The Tennessean reports.

Mayor Barry wants to raise four taxes, including the sales tax, to create dedicated funding for a far-reaching mass transit proposal that includes light rail. The council’s action would simply tack the transit proposal on to the Metro local primary election, set for May 1. It would not authorize any funding or tax increases, but instead give Nashville voters the final say.

Under a schedule laid out, the bill will head to the council for a first of three required votes on Dec. 19, followed by a public hearing on the proposal Jan. 9. For the full story, click here.