(a) In any municipality that has adopted home rule, where any question subject to local approval, under the provisions of the Constitution of Tennessee, article XI, § 9 has not been approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the local governing body, a petition signed by the qualified voters of the municipality in a number amounting to at least ten percent (10%) of the votes cast in the last election for mayor may be filed with the appropriate election commission officials not later than sixty (60) days prior to the day of the next regular election or primary, and the question shall be placed on the ballot of the next regular election. Where the total cost of conducting a special election pursuant to the Constitution of Tennessee, article XI, § 9 is defrayed completely by private financial contributions, a special election may be held for the purpose of approving or disapproving the question.
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 6-53-105

  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • County: means the county in which any such city or territory to be incorporated under chapters 30-36 of this title is located, or in which the major portion of the population of any such city or territory to be incorporated is located as indicated by the last federal census. See Tennessee Code 6-30-102
  • Officer: means the mayor, aldermen, city attorney and city judge. See Tennessee Code 6-1-101
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • signed: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed, or any other symbol or methodology executed or adopted by a party with intention to authenticate a writing or record, regardless of being witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) Except in counties having a metropolitan form of government and having a population of not less than four hundred twenty thousand (420,000) nor more than five hundred thousand (500,000), according to the 1970 federal census, the local governing body of any municipality that has adopted home rule may, by ordinance, propose an amendment to the charter of such municipality by a majority vote of the body and submit the same for ratification by approval of the qualified voters of the municipality, in a special election to be held for such purpose, the amendment to be limited in its substance and applicability to the establishment of a property tax rate, or the increasing or reduction thereof. When such local governing body has proposed any such amendment, it shall notify the election commission, which shall call and hold an election for the municipality after giving forty-five (45) days’ notice that such election will be held. The ballot shall set forth the proposed amendment as set out in the resolution adopted by the local governing body, and the voters shall vote “For the amendment” or “Against the amendment.” Following the election the vote shall be canvassed by the county election commission and if a majority of those voting vote for the amendment, it shall become a part of the charter of such home rule municipality.
(c) On any ballot on which an amendment to the charter of a home rule municipality appears for approval or disapproval by the electorate, a statement certified by the chief financial officer of the municipality shall appear immediately after the language describing the amendment but before the questions “For the amendment” and “Against the amendment.” The statement shall indicate the chief financial officer’s estimate of the net cost savings, net cost increase, or net increase or decrease in revenues, on a yearly basis, if any, that will be effected if the amendment is approved. The statement by the financial officer shall be made readily distinguishable from the language describing the amendment itself.
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