Top ten counties in Tennessee ranked by population growth.
New growth brings both advantages and challenges to communities. New growth attracting higher wage earners or “empty nesters” can decrease the financial burdens on a community, and the reverse is also true. Communities that seek to encourage the growth of high users of community services will invariably feel the financial strains associated with the growth of that population demographic.
County governments have very specific limitations on revenue. Tennessee’s state constitution and laws prescribe what obligations a county must provide to its citizens. These revenue streams are generally sufficient so long as a county government does not expand beyond its core responsibilities to its citizens.
Municipalities are chartered differently under state law. They have expanded revenue resources from which they may provide additional services to the citizens within their boundaries. The additional levels of “urban-type services” are provided at the municipality’s discretion with their citizens’ consent.