Elected Office · City and County

Metro Council Member

Charter name: Metropolitan County Council

One of 40 people who write Nashville’s local laws, adopt the budget and set the property tax rate.

This is the office that decides how much money Metro spends and what your property tax rate is. In Davidson County the Metro Council does the job a county commission does everywhere else in Tennessee — there is no separate county commission here.

What only this office can do

Exercise the legislative authority of the metropolitan government, exclusively by ordinanceMetro Charter §3.05
"The council shall exercise its legislative authority only by ordinance, except as otherwise specifically provided by this Charter or by general law."
Adopt the annual operating budgetMetro Charter §6.06
Must "finally adopt an operating budget for the ensuing fiscal year not later than the thirtieth day of June."
Levy property taxesMetro Charter §6.07
The tax levy ordinance "shall be the next order of business of the council after the adoption of the operating budget."
Authorize bonds and other debtMetro Charter §7.01
"The council may in the name and for the use of the metropolitan government issue bonds or other obligations."
Override the Mayor’s veto and line-item vetoMetro Charter §5.04
Takes effect when "adopted by two-thirds (2/3rds) of all the members."
Confirm the Mayor’s departmental directorsMetro Charter §5.03
Directors not under civil service "shall be confirmed by the council."
Investigate the government — and this one is veto-proofMetro Charter §3.06
By three-quarters resolution which "shall not be subject to veto by the mayor." May employ personnel and appropriate funds for the purpose.
Put Charter amendments to the votersMetro Charter §19.01
Requires "not less than two-thirds of the membership," then ratification by the voters.

Main responsibilities

Legislate on all metropolitan powers, and govern "the organization, conduct and operations of all departments, boards, commissions, offices and agencies" (§3.06)
Pass ordinances on three separate readings, by a majority of all members entitled to vote on final passage (§3.05)
Hold public hearings on the proposed operating budget (§6.05)
Adopt the budget by June 30, keeping appropriations within "the estimated fund balance, reserves and revenues" (§6.06)
Set the property tax rate by tax levy ordinance immediately after adopting the budget (§6.07)
Accept, amend or reject the capital improvements budget from the planning commission (§6.13)
Confirm mayoral appointments of departmental directors and the Metropolitan Clerk (§5.03, §18.01)
Meet publicly on the first and third Tuesday of each month, in a metropolitan building (§3.04)

What this office cannot do alone

Cannot write the budget — only adopt or amend itMetro Charter §6.04, §6.06
The Mayor proposes. The Council may amend but cannot appropriate beyond estimated revenues, and failing to adopt before the fiscal year begins means the Mayor’s budget is presumed adopted.
Cannot enact an ordinance over the Mayor’s objection with a simple majorityMetro Charter §5.04
An override takes two-thirds of all members.
Cannot restore a line-item-vetoed appropriation without that same two-thirds voteMetro Charter §5.04
The disapproved item stays void until two-thirds of all members restore it.
Cannot appoint department headsMetro Charter §5.03
The Mayor appoints; the Council only confirms.
Cannot administer departments day to dayMetro Charter §5.01, §5.03
Executive power is vested in the Mayor.
Cannot amend the Charter aloneMetro Charter §19.01
A two-thirds resolution only puts it on the ballot. A majority of votes cast must ratify it.
Cannot act without a quorumMetro Charter §3.03
"Not less than two-thirds (2/3rds) of all the members… shall constitute a quorum."
Cannot legislate by resolutionMetro Charter §3.05
Legislative authority is exercised "only by ordinance," on three readings.

Who this office works with

Metropolitan MayorMetro Charter §6.04, §5.03, §5.04
Proposes the budget the Council adopts, appoints the directors the Council confirms, and may veto what the Council passes.
Vice MayorMetro Charter §3.03
Presides over the Council without a vote, except to break a tie.
Metropolitan Board of Public EducationMetro Charter §9.02, §6.06
Separately elected and runs the school system. The Council does not run the schools — but the schools appropriation sits inside the operating budget the Council adopts.
Metropolitan Planning CommissionMetro Charter §6.13
Prepares the capital improvements budget, which the Council may accept, amend or reject.

Term, election and qualifications

Body size: 5 councilmembers at large plus 35 district councilmembers — 40 in all.Metro Charter §3.01 (amended by referendum Nov. 6, 2018, Amdt. 6)
Term length: Four years, "and until their successors are" qualified.Metro Charter §3.02
Term limits: Two consecutive terms, on the same mechanics as the mayor.Metro Charter §1.07
Election cycle: First Thursday in August, every four years from 1971 — so 2023, next in 2027.Metro Charter §15.01
How they are elected: District seats need a majority, with a runoff between the top two. At-large seats go to the five with the highest number of votes, being also a majority; otherwise a runoff.Metro Charter §15.02
Age: 25 at the beginning of the term.Metro Charter §3.02
Residency: Resident of the metropolitan area for one year, continuing during service. District members must also have lived in the district for six months, continuing during service.Metro Charter §3.02
Cannot also hold: May "hold no other elective or appointive office in the metropolitan government or employment by said government."Metro Charter §3.02
Vacancy: A special election is held if a district vacancy occurs more than eight months before the term ends. For an at-large seat, "no special election shall take place and the office shall remain vacant for the remainder of the term."Metro Charter §15.03
Pensions: No pension for council service.Metro Charter §3.07

Sources

Charter of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County — official codification.

Last verified September 7, 2026 · Source block verified September 7, 2026

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