Nashville to Decide on Controversial $3.1 Billion Transit Funding Plan Amid Transparency Concerns

Nashville Faces a Key Decision on Transit Funding

As Nashville gears up for a significant decision regarding its transit system, a fresh set of developments has emerged. The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance has placed the spotlight on the fundraising and financial activities of a group backing Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s ambitious “Choose How You Move” transportation plan.

A Call for Transparency

This week, the Tennessee election finance registry sent a friendly yet firm letter to the Nashville Moves Action Fund, urging them to register as a referendum committee prior to the fast-approaching Election Day. They’ve also requested the group to submit timely financial disclosures. In essence, they’re asking for a little more transparency about where the funding is coming from, especially since the Choose How You Move plan has a hefty price tag of $3.1 billion.

Big Bucks for Big Ideas

The Nashville Moves Action Fund has been a financial powerhouse, dishing out over $2.1 million to support the pro-transit campaign. This group is connected to the Green Lights for Nashville PAC, which has also been quite the contributor to the cause. To no one’s surprise, the bulk of the funding—around $1.9 million—flowed directly from the Nashville Moves Action Fund.

Interestingly, while there’s a significant amount of cash flowing into the campaign, a lot of the funding sources remain shrouded in mystery. Currently, a reported $190,900 of the fund has come from Political Action Committees (PACs), which are obliged to disclose their donators. Much of this PAC money comes from local businesses, law firms, and even labor unions—all of whom stand to gain from a successful transit plan. Notably, major players in the architecture and engineering industries, like Gresham Smith and HDR, Inc., each donated $50,000 to the fund.

What’s at Stake?

As voters prepare for the November 5 ballot, they are faced with a critical choice: support the transit funding through a proposed half-cent sales tax increase, or opt against this initiative. The improvements promised—ranging from expanded bus routes and updated traffic signals to new sidewalks—would mark a significant step forward for Nashville’s public transit system.

The pro-transit website, hownashvillemoves.com, serves as a hub for encouraging donations, yet the lack of transparency has raised eyebrows. It’s worth noting that although the Nashville Moves Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit—typically able to keep their donors under wraps—the state election registry believes they are operating more as a political campaign committee. In light of this, the registry insists they must adhere to the same reporting standards as other political entities.

The Response and Next Steps

Despite the registry’s outreach, Nashville Moves Action Fund has not yet complied with their demands for registration. The fund has until November 5, 2024, to submit the required forms or face further scrutiny at a future meeting. Their failure to act may lead to some serious conversations about transparency and accountability in Nashville’s political fundraising.

On a related note, the opposition to the transit plan, known as the Committee to Stop an Unfair Tax, isn’t making waves in the fundraising department. Their total funding from October 1 to October 26 was a mere $6,870, compared to the pro-transit side’s $1.4 million just for the month of October.

Looking Ahead

As Nashville gets ready to make this pivotal decision, many locals may find themselves forming opinions about the transit plan’s value versus the financial implications. With the election day fast approaching, it’s clear that Nashville’s transit future hangs in the balance, and everyone is keen to see how this story unfolds.