Who controls this?

Primary — This office decides it.

• ✓PrimaryCITY · LEVIES THE TAXMetro Council Member

  In Davidson County this is the office that sets the property tax rate. The tax levy ordinance is the next order of business of the council after the adoption of the operating budget.

  Source: Metro Charter §6.07

• ✓PrimaryCOUNTY · SETS THE RATE OUTSIDE DAVIDSONCounty Commission

  Sets the county property tax rate in counties that have a county commission. Davidson County does not have one — Nashville and Davidson County share one combined government.

Shared — Cannot act alone. Must work with another office.

• ⚖SharedAssessor of Property

  Determines what your property is worth. The rate is only half the bill; the assessed value is the other half.

Influences — Shapes it. Does not decide it.

• ○InfluencesCITY · PROPOSES THE BUDGETMetropolitan Mayor

  Submits the operating budget to the Council. Cannot adopt it, and cannot levy the tax.

  Source: Metro Charter §6.04, §6.07

• ○InfluencesCOUNTY · PROPOSES OUTSIDE DAVIDSONCounty Mayor

  Proposes a budget that implies a tax rate. Cannot adopt it.

• ○InfluencesCounty Trustee

  Collects the tax. Sets nothing.

Primary — This office decides it.

• ✓PrimaryCITY · ADOPTS THE APPROPRIATIONMetro Council Member

  One of 40 people who adopt Metro's operating budget. The schools appropriation is inside it — this is the office that sets the total.

  Source: Metro Charter §6.06

• ✓PrimaryCOUNTY · RUNS THE SCHOOLSSchool Board Member

  Nine separately elected members. Oversees the school system and approves the school system budget request — but does not set the total.

  Source: Metro Charter §9.02

Shared — Cannot act alone. Must work with another office.

• ⚖SharedSTATE · WRITES THE FUNDING FORMULATennessee General Assembly

  Writes state education law and the state funding formula that determines how much state money each district receives.

Influences — Shapes it. Does not decide it.

• ○InfluencesCITY · PROPOSES THE BUDGETMetropolitan Mayor

  Submits the operating budget to the Council. Cannot adopt it, and does not run the schools.

  Source: Metro Charter §6.04, §9.02

• ○InfluencesGovernor of Tennessee

  Proposes the state education budget and appoints the Commissioner of Education.

Primary — This office decides it.

• ✓PrimaryMetro Nashville Police Department (MNPD)

  The general police force for Nashville and Davidson County: preventing and investigating crime, patrol, emergency response. Its Chief of Police is appointed by the Mayor.

• ✓PrimaryThe Sheriff

  A separately elected constitutional officer whose core, exclusive duty is running the jail. The Sheriff does NOT run general policing in Nashville.

Shared — Cannot act alone. Must work with another office.

• ⚖SharedThe Mayor

  Appoints the Chief of Police and proposes the police budget.

• ⚖SharedMetro Council

  Approves the police budget and passes local ordinances.

• ⚖SharedThe District Attorney

  Separately elected; decides which cases are prosecuted. Police make arrests; the DA decides whether to bring charges.

Influences — Shapes it. Does not decide it.

• ○InfluencesTennessee state law

  Defines crimes and sets rules police follow.

• ○InfluencesTennessee Highway Patrol

  Primary authority on state highways.

• ○InfluencesThe small cities inside Davidson County

  Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Forest Hills, Goodlettsville, Lakewood, and Oak Hill run their own police forces.

Primary — This office decides it.

• ✓PrimaryMetropolitan Council

  Makes the FINAL decision on all zoning changes. If land gets rezoned in Nashville, the Council voted for it.

Shared — Cannot act alone. Must work with another office.

• ⚖SharedMetro Planning Commission

  Reviews zoning requests, holds public hearings, and RECOMMENDS approval or denial to the Council (advisory on zoning; it does not have the final say). It does make the final decision on subdivision and final site plans.

• ⚖SharedMetro Planning Department

  Staff who review applications against the community plan.

• ⚖SharedMetro Water Services

  Must confirm water/sewer capacity; insufficient capacity can block a rezoning regardless of planning support.

Influences — Shapes it. Does not decide it.

• ○InfluencesCommunity members

  Can testify at Planning Commission and Council public hearings, and shape the underlying community land-use plans.

• ○InfluencesYour district councilmember

  Often carries significant weight on rezonings in their district.

• ○InfluencesMetro Historic Zoning Commission

  Reviews changes within designated historic districts.

Primary — This office decides it.

• ✓PrimaryNashville Department of Transportation (NDOT)

  Maintains local Metro streets in Davidson County: paving, potholes, sidewalks, bridges, signals, street lights. For a pothole on a neighborhood street, a 311 request goes to NDOT.

• ✓PrimaryTennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)

  Maintains the state highway system: interstates, U.S. routes, and state routes running through Nashville. Potholes and repairs on those corridors are TDOT's, not Metro's.

Shared — Cannot act alone. Must work with another office.

• ⚖SharedThe Mayor and Metro Council

  Approve NDOT's budget through the annual Metro budget.

• ⚖SharedFederal Highway Administration (FHWA)

  Funds major projects, administered through TDOT; federal money comes with federal rules.

Influences — Shapes it. Does not decide it.

• ○InfluencesWhich road you're on

  Decides who's responsible — the same trip can cross Metro streets and state highways.

• ○InfluencesResidents

  Report problems via hubNashville / 311 for Metro roads, or TDOT Region 3 for state roads.