Restoring % of Shared Sales Tax to Town, other municipalities a goal of new TML prez Williams
Farragut Mayor Ron Williams recently was elected president of the Tennessee Municipal League’s 2023-2024 board of directors at its general business meeting held in conjunction with the TML Annual Conference earlier this month in Nashville.
As president of TML, Williams will lead the organization as it advocates for the interests of 345 cities and towns across Tennessee.
“I am truly honored to be selected to serve as the Tennessee Municipal League’s next president, and I will work hard to advance the interests of Tennessee’s municipalities — both large and small, urban and rural,” Williams said. “Local leadership is so very important. When our cities and towns stand together with one voice, the results benefit all of our citizens.”
Williams explained one key aspect of the importance of his work with the organization.
“As a goal-oriented mayor, my plans are to work to restore the portion of the State’s Shared Sales Tax that municipalities have been missing since 2002,” he said. “Due to a budget shortage, the state raised the sales tax from 6 to 7 percent but failed to share a portion as usual with its municipalities. During this same budget shortfall they cut the Single Article Sales Tax on big-ticket items such as cars, boats and motor homes that we received in half.
“We all know that the cities are the economic engine of our state and my plans are to work with our legislators and governor to have our State Shared Sales Tax returned and our Single Article Tax portion restored,” he added.
Williams has served as vice president of the TML board since 2020. Vice presidents are traditionally in line to serve as president.
The board also includes mayors of Tennessee’s four largest cities, four at-large directors and eight district directors.
TML’s primary function is to work with the Tennessee General Assembly on behalf of city governments, promoting legislation helpful to cities and opposing legislation harmful to cities.
