1-TENNESSEE TOWN & CITY/APRIL 11, 2011 www.TML1.org 6,250 subscribers www.TML1.org Volume 62, Number 6 April 11, 2011 Former Gov. McWherter dies Making sense of the 2010 Census and BY CAROLE GRAVES what it means for state shared revenues TML Communications Director BY KEVIN KRUSHENSKI percent of the total increase in the in population of 95,637 or about 22 Former Tennessee Gov. Ned TML Research Anaylst state’s population over the decade. percent of the total increase in the Ray McWherter died April 4, after a The largest percentage increase state’s municipal population. battle against cancer. He was 80. Every 10 years the U.S. Cen- in municipal population occurred in Oakland and Arlington saw McWherter was elected the sus Bureau determines the popula- Middle Tennessee, 68 percent, fol- the largest percentage increase in 46th governor of Tennessee in 1986 tion of the United States. Nearly lowed by East Tennessee, 17 per- population with growth of 418 and served two terms. everyone understands the impor- cent, and West Tennessee, 15 per- percent and 348 percent, respec- Prior to his election as governor, tance of these numbers as they are cent. tively. There were eight cities or McWherter served 18 years in the used for determining reapportion- The populations of the cities and towns whose population grew by state House of Representatives ment and redistricting at the fed- towns located in the counties imme- more than 140 percent. elected in 1968. A Dreseden resi- eral, state and local levels. How- diately contiguous to Shelby, For population information dent, he ran to represent a rural ever, the census numbers are of Davidson, Knox and Hamilton Coun- concerning any municipality, district in the northwest corner of added importance to cities as the ties grew, on average, at a rate of please refer to the 2010 Census the state. After only two terms, his census numbers are also used to 35percent over the last decade. section on TML’s website colleagues elected him Speaker, determine eligibility for a number of These cities and towns accounted www.TML1.org serving a record seven terms. For federally-funded direct and/or for about 46 percent of the growth in the next 14 years he was the domi- competitive grant programs and by the state’s municipal population or State Shared Revenues nant force in the House. the state to distribute shared rev- about 30.7 percent of the growth in With the release of the 2010 During his tenure at the state Ned McWherter (1930 - 2011) enues that are allocated on a per the state’s population. decennial census and the updated Capitol, he helped pass many pieces capita basis. All told, 228 cities and towns municipal populations, cities and of landmark legislation including the friend to local governments, making The 2010 decennial census experienced an increase of 456,808 towns are wondering how the new 21st Century Schools education re- sure that whenever the state enacted shows that the state’s population in their collective populations, while population figures will affect the form program, now known as the any tax increases that local govern- now numbers slightly more than 119 municipalities collectively lost distribution of state-shared rev- BEP, to more fairly distribute and ments received their share, includ- 6.3 million. This represents an in- 16,043 in population. enues and when cities can expect increase school funding across the ing a portion of a gas tax increase in crease in the state’s population of Nashville realized the largest in- to see this change reflected in the state. He replaced Medicaid with 1986 and a sales tax increase in 656,822, or 11.5 percent, over the crease in actual population; increas- distributions received from the TennCare, a pioneering program and 1993. last 10 years. The census also ing by 55,698. Nashville was fol- state? regarded as a national model for After leaving the governor's shows that the population of the lowed by Murfreesboro, which real- State shared revenues are expanding health insurance to the office in 1995, he remained in poli- state’s cities and towns increase by ized an increase of 39,939. Together, funds collected by the state, dis- poor. He helped pass a comprehen- tics working as an unofficial adviser 440,765; accounting for about 67 these two cities realized an increase See CENSUS on Page 6 sive road program, launching an ag- to former President Bill Clinton, gressive plan of constructing four- whose friendship was forged when lane highways to every county seat. Clinton was governor of Arkansas. He also ushered in a $300 million He often campaigned for Demo- Agenda for higher education linked corrections program that included cratic candidates, including future construction of prisons across the Gov. Phil Bredesen, Vice President state. Al Gore during his 2000 bid for to state’s economic development He has been described as an president, and his son Mike during “Old South” politician, a quintessen- his own run for governor in 2010. BY CAROLE GRAVES tial good ole boy who was known for Aside from his son, McWherter his plain talk and forever “easing is survived by his daughter-in-law Calling it a landmark opportu- along.” He has been lauded for his Mary Jane; two grandchildren; a nity for education in Tennessee, Dr. bipartisan approach and his master- stepdaughter; and two step grand- Richard Rhoda, executive director ful consensus building. children. of the Tennessee Higher Education He was considered to be a true See MCWHERTER on Page 5 Commission (THEC), recently briefed city officials on the Complete College Tennessee Act of 2010. His remarks came during the TML Legislative Conference held in March – a little more than a year from when the Act was first en- acted. He said that over the last 12 months THEC, the University of Tennessee (UT), and the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) have com- pleted the planning stage and are well 2011 TML Annual Conference fast into the implementation stage now. “The Complete College Tennes- approaching; make plans to attend! see Act is unique, not just for Ten- nessee but on the national scale. No The TML Annual Conference is other state has enacted higher edu- fast approaching and city officials in cation reform legislation of this mag- Murfreesboro and members of the nitude, at least within the last number TML staff are working hard to make of decades,” he said. sure the 2011 Annual Conference is At the center of these reforms is another memorable event. the need for more Tennesseans to be Photo by Victoria South Scheduled for June 11 - 14 at the better educated and trained, while Dr. Richard Rhoda, executive director of the Tennessee Higher Edu- Murfreesboro Conference Center, also acknowledging the state's di- cation Commission, recently briefed city officials on the Complete the conference will feature dynamic minished fiscal capacity to support College Tennessee Act of 2010. speakers and informative work- higher education. One of the key shops. components of the act is a new creased 25 percent over the last missions at a community college and With a theme of Rising to the funding formula that rewards three years, and the likelihood of university simultaneously, and elimi- Challenge, many of the conference schools for their graduation rates. increased support of any signifi- nation of remedial and developmen- workshops and speakers will focus “It dictates development of new cance in the near future is remote.” tal courses at universities. on helping community leaders plan higher education funding formula The Act, initiated by the “It speaks to reorienting the for the difficult challenges ahead. that is driven by concrete outcomes Bredesen administration during the community colleges more as a uni- Dr. Scott Paine, professor of and replaces the formula that was 2010 special session on education fied system,” said Rhoda. government affairs at the University Scott Paine largely enrollment driven,” he ex- reforms, was also designed to en- The Act also calls for enhancing of Tampa, will lead a two-part work- plained. “The outcomes include hance cooperation between colleges the research function of UT Knox- shop on public leadership entitled number of graduates, research and universities in the Tennessee ville, largely by strengthening its re- Rethinking Leadership; Reclaiming funding, and graduation rates at the Board of Regents and University of lationship with the Oak Ridge Na- Public Trust. Scheduled for Mon- universities, and student Tennessee systems. It contains a set tional Lab, and with the Memphis day, June 13, the workshop will remediation, job placements, stu- of measures to improve student suc- Research Consortium - - a collabo- examine a wide-range of political, dent transfers, and associate de- cess, including: common courses ration of the University of Memphis, social, and technological changes grees at the community colleges. and course numbering among insti- UT Health Science Center, and St. that have taken place in the last half- “State support for higher educa- tutions to ease the transfer of stu- Jude Hospital. century that have altered the stage on tion has been reduced dramatically dents, clearly identified curriculum Rhoda said that by improving which contemporary public leader- as a result of the recession,” Rhoda designed to transfer from commu- the educational attainment levels of ship must be enacted. He paints a continued. “Appropriations have de- nity colleges to universities, dual ad- See EDUCATION on Page 9 compelling picture of a political world that now challenges the tal- ents of the most skilled leaders. By EPA conducts Phase II stormwater survey following some of his recommenda- tions, community leaders can help BY JOHN CHLARSON diction, while still having access to erators by providing one set of restore the public confidence and MTAS Public Works Consultant enforcement support from TDEC.