Tennessee GOP approves fee schedule for primary candidates
The executive committee of the Tennessee Republican Party has voted to impose fees on candidates seeking to run in GOP primaries. The vote was 33-22.
The fees are based on a sliding scale depending on the office sought. Here is what future Republican candidate will have to cough up when they file their papers:
- Governor: $5,000.
- U.S. Senate: $5,000.
- U.S. House: $2,500.
- State Senate: $1,000.
- State House: $500.
- Judicial offices: $500.
- Countywide elected offices: $100.
- County Commission or Constable: $25.
Legislator proposes to stop $30M in fees paid by local governments to state Dept. of Revenue
State Rep. Jason Zachary, working with Knox County Commissioner John Schoonmaker, is making plans to eliminate a fee charged local governments by the state Department of Revenue for collecting local sales taxes and distributing the money to counties and cities, reports the News Sentinel.
State Department of Revenue gets oversight of phone bill fees
A state law that took effect in July may end legal disputes between Tennessee’s local emergency communications districts and telecommunications companies over 911 fees by giving new authority to the state Department of Revenue, reports the Times Free Press.
Sponsored by Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, and Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, the bill was passed in 2016. It puts the department in charge of ensuring telecommunications firms such as AT&T collect and turn over state-mandated surcharges on landline and cellphone bills. The fees go to county 911 centers to provide operations and support for fire, police, medical and other emergency communications.
