NASHVILLE – Officials in six Tennessee cities, including Chattanooga, are in a dither over legislation sponsored by two Hamilton County lawmakers to allow some dissatisfied homeowners to vote to “de-annex” their communities.
The House’s version of the bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Carter, R-Ooltewah, is up for a House floor vote Monday.
As amended in committees, Carter’s bill would allow petitions for de-annexation to be put to a vote if 10 percent of registered voters in areas annexed since May 1, 1998, or whose annexation “became operative” after that date, asked for a referendum. A majority vote on the referendum would mean those communities would no longer be legally part of the city.
Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, has the companion bill but it differs from Carter’s. Watson told the Times Free Press on Thursday that Carter has engage in extensive negotiations with various groups and he intends to see what, if anything, passes.
“Then I’ll figure out how it stands,” said Watson, who said some of his constituents remain unhappy over past annexations. “Whatever horse Rep. Carter can get into the barn, I’ll try to see if we can get a bridle on it and ride out of the Senate.”