ORDINANCE NO. BL2011-40

An ordinance amending Title 5 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws relative to the privilege tax on the sale of tickets to events at the municipal stadium.

WHEREAS, T.C.A. § 7-3-202, originally adopted in Public Chapter 491 of the Public Acts of 1977, authorizes a metropolitan government to impose a privilege tax on the sale of tickets to events in a municipal stadium; and,

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council approved Public Chapter 491 by adopting an ordinance by a greater than 2/3 vote on November 15, 1977, Bill No. 77-711; and,

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (Metropolitan Government) completed construction of the stadium now called L.P. Field in 1999, which meets the definition of a municipal stadium provided in T.C.A. § 7-3-202; and,

WHEREAS, in 2009 the Metropolitan Government originally imposed a $2 privilege tax on the privilege of attending most events at L.P. Field, pursuant to BL 2009-545; and,

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government desires to increase the privilege tax upon the privilege of attending an event at L.P. Field by $1 and to extend the duration of the tax; and,

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government will continue to use the privilege tax revenue according to Section 5.14.040 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, specifically:
a. to defray the costs of constructing, operating, renovating, expanding or improving the municipal stadium or
b. for the payment of debt service on bonds or other indebtedness issued by the Metropolitan Government or the Sports Authority of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (Sports Authority) for the construction, operation, renovation, expansion or improvement of the municipal stadium; and,

WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the citizens of Nashville and Davidson County that this privilege tax be approved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That Title 5 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws is amended by deleting Section 5.14.020 (A) in its entirety and substituting the following language:
A. There is levied a privilege tax upon the privilege of attending any event at the municipal stadium. The amount shall be as follows:
1. Effective for events scheduled to occur from June 14, 2010, through July 31, 2013, an amount of $2.00.
2. Effective for events scheduled to occur on or after August 1, 2013, an amount of $3.00.
3. To the extent the tax exceeds 10% of the consideration charged for a ticket, the tax will be limited to 10% of the ticket price.

Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage by a two-thirds vote, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Peter Westerholm, Sean McGuire, Charlie Tygard

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Introduced:	November 1, 2011
Passed First Reading:	November 1, 2011
Referred to:	Budget & Finance Committee Convention & Tourism Committee
Passed Second Reading:	November 15, 2011 - Roll Call Vote
Passed Third Reading:	December 6, 2011 - Roll Call Vote
Approved:	December 12, 2011
By: