Terms Used In Tennessee Code 7-2-109

  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Metropolitan government: means the political entity created by consolidation of all, or substantially all, of the political and corporate functions of a county and a city or cities. See Tennessee Code 7-1-101
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105

The general assembly encourages the improvement of public property and facilities, which can include the use of public-private partnerships. Therefore, notwithstanding the provisions of another law to the contrary, a metropolitan government ordinance, resolution, or charter provision that requires a supermajority vote of the local legislative body in order to make improvements to, renovations to, or the demolition and replacement of existing facilities owned by the metropolitan government when such facilities are to be used for substantially the same use and purpose as the use prior to improvement, renovation, or demolition and replacement is declared to be contrary to public policy and is void. Rather, the voting requirement for improvements, renovations, or the demolition and replacement of existing facilities owned by the metropolitan government that are to be used for substantially the same use as the use prior to improvement, renovation, or demolition and replacement, including the lease of the property to a private entity for the purpose of making the improvement, renovation, or demolition and replacement, or operation of the facility, must be the same voting requirement applicable to ordinances of the legislative body in general.