Dickson Residents Have 20 Days to Seek Referendum on $40 Million Bond Issue

Dickson, TN — Dickson residents who oppose the city's plan to borrow money for its new City Center project now have a limited opportunity to place the issue before voters.

Following action by the Dickson City Council on Monday night, the city will publish legal notice of its intent to issue the first $40 million in general obligation bonds for the City Center project. Once that notice is published, citizens will have 20 days to gather enough signatures to force a public referendum on the borrowing.

City Administrator Travis Jones explained the process before the council voted on the initial bond resolution.

"This will allow notification to the public that they have 20 days to get together 10 percent of the registered voters," Jones told council members. He added that the required number of signatures is based on the number of registered voters on the date the legal notice is published. Officials said the notice is expected to appear in the newspaper this week, giving residents until approximately August 25 to submit a petition.

The council unanimously approved the initial resolution, which begins the legal process for issuing up to $80 million in general obligation bonds for various city projects. A second resolution, also approved unanimously, authorizes the first $40 million bond issue, which will finance construction of the new City Center.

If citizens collect valid signatures from at least 10 percent of registered city voters within the 20-day period, the bond issue could be submitted to voters in a referendum rather than proceeding without a public vote. If the petition does not receive enough valid signatures before the deadline, the city may continue with the bond issuance process.

The referendum discussion came during a meeting that also included public criticism of the borrowing plan.

During public comment, Dickson resident Trace Edmonson urged council members to reconsider taking on additional debt for the City Center project. Edmonson expressed concern that the project could eventually lead to higher taxes and argued the city should prioritize investments such as parks, sidewalks, and other community improvements instead of constructing a new municipal complex. He also suggested renovating an existing building rather than building a new city hall.

The bond issue is intended to finance construction of the city's new City Center, a project with a guaranteed maximum construction price of $38,723,075, approved later during Monday night's meeting. City officials have said the facility will serve as a new municipal complex and consolidate city services into one location.

For now, the next step rests with the public. Once the legal notice is published, residents who wish to challenge the borrowing will have a 20-day window to organize, collect signatures, and submit a petition requesting that the question be placed on the ballot.