The whole AFT issue is nothing short of confusing. This new AG opinion really does a good job of explaining it.

(link...) Click on OPO 161

Back when the Sports Complex was a hot topic in Blount County the issue of building new cities in the middle of nowhere was of concern to us all.

One key point was the sand filtration systems. Blount County, by allowing South Blount to get into the sewer bid'ness pretty much removed the let's build us a new city in the middle of a good corn field stop gap.

We need to keep our eyes on the issues of urban sprawl and funding new schools and use Rutherford County as an example.

(link...)

Communities need to be aware of how this can affect other infrastructure needs, such as providing adequate schools, Buchanan said.

"Those are the issues that arise from all of the sudden being able to treat wastewater and now put three houses on one acre," he said. "Those are the issues that have really jumped up and bit Rutherford County in the hind end. They are building schools so fast. Even getting electricity out to those places is interesting."

The County Powers Relief Act limits a new AFT to one dollar per square foot on new homes built and that money has to go toward new schools- not roads or bridges.