A proposal filed Monday would cut the Nashville Metro Council in half — from 40 members to 20. Supporters of the bill believe reducing the council would make it more efficient.
The Metro Council is currently the third largest in the country. There have been attempts in the past to trim the size, but they’ve all failed. The most recent was in 2015 when 60% of Nashville voters opted to keep the council as is.
But House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, wants state lawmakers, not voters, to make this decision.
“Councils that are smaller than 20 seem to be more efficient. They are more careful with their citizens’ tax dollars. They just simply seem to work better,” said Lamberth. “They’re better to work with.”
Co-sponsoring the legislation along with Lamberth is Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby.
Metro Councilmember Tanaka Vercher, who represents South Nashville, thinks it may be well-intended but not thought-out because it could limit input from residents.
“The big concern for me would be: When you represent such a diverse, fast-growing area, what happens to that representation?” Vercher said.
Cutting the council has been talked about behind the scenes for months and seen as a “retaliation” for Metro Council voting against hosting the Republican National Convention.
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