GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — Gallatin’s latest attempt to charge developers to build in their city was shot down by the state once again. 

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The city has been looking to amend their city charter to allow them to use impact fees on new construction. 

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This change of charter bill passed through the state’s Private Acts Committee in March. Then, last week, the bill went in front of the State and Local Government committee, and was almost unanimously voted down.

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Lawmakers expressed concern with the impact fee not having a limit on what Gallatin could charge new developers. 

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“So they could put $50,000 per house, and that would be okay?” asked Rep. Jeff Burkhart during the meeting. 

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“Yes, according to the resolution passed by the city council, that is correct,” answered Rep. William Slater, who brought the bill forth on behalf of Gallatin. 

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What is interesting about the vote: it happened a day before Gallatin officials expected. 

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Gallatin councilman Pascal Jouvence, a staunch advocate for impact fees, believed the committee would discuss it last Wednesday, April 9. Instead, the committee discussed the bill on Tuesday, without Jouvence or Gallatin’s Mayor Paige Brown in attendance to fight for its approval. 

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“That was pretty disappointing. We were ready, Mayor Brown, Councilman Alexander and myself, we had signed up to speak on Wednesday. And on Tuesday, we get the text, all three [of us], saying the bill was already voted on,” said Jouvence. “They basically went without us being able to be there to explain what was really happening.” 

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Councilman Jouvence took exception to the hypothetical figure that was used by Rep. Burkhart, saying the city “would be stupid” to charge that much ($50,000 a unit) for future development. 

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“You’d have to be not all there to do that,” Jouvence said, pointing at his head. “There was a plan in place, that’s how it’s done. We need an [outside] study done, and when the study is done, the study is telling us what we can charge and we cannot go more than that.” 

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After putting in plenty of work with state legislators, Jouvence believed the city had a chance to get the bill passed. Nonetheless, he said he’s not quitting on the fight, so long as he’s in office. 

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“They tell us that we cannot do what everybody does around us. And that’s where it’s infuriating,” said Jouvence. “The state level, we’re dealing with people who are realtors and developers. Some told me, black and white, ‘Hey, I’m a developer, I will never vote for it.’” 

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Facing an “uphill battle,” Jouvence said Gallatin officials will, eventually, have to make tough decisions to combat their rapid growth.

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​“I think you need to man up and do what people don’t want to do. Brentwood has not approved a rezoning in two years. Why can’t we do that?” asked Jouvence. “We won’t have a choice, we will have to raise taxes to fund all [our] growth. I think you need to start acting for the benefit of all the people around you, and not developers.” 

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