NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Senate is scheduled to vote on a controversial de-annexation bill on Monday.
The bill would allow areas annexed by Memphis since 1998 to hold referendums to de-annex themselves.
That includes the South Cordova area as well as the Windyke and Southwind neighborhoods.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said the city stands to lose nearly $80 million in tax revenue a year if those areas leave the city.
On Friday, a group of state lawmakers led by Representative Joe Towns held a news conference urging the city to fight the legislation by using any means possible.
“Everything needs to be utilized to stop this kind of madness because this is not just something that’s happening this time. It has happened before where they’re picking and targeting Memphis for selective kinds of control. We don’t need their help, we don’t want their help and we resent their help,” said Representative Joe Towns.
State Senator Lee Harris is pushing Senate leaders to delay the vote.
He’s requested an opinion from the State Attorney General’s Office as to whether the bill is constitutional.
