House subcommittee to discuss creation of convention center authority

By Chas Sisk • THE TENNESSEAN • April 22, 2009 A bill that would set up an independent authority to build and manage the proposed downtown convention center is moving through the state legislature. A subcommittee is scheduled to hold the House's first hearing this morning on the measure, which would give Metro the power to set up an authority that would build and operate the Music City Center. The hearing comes two weeks after a Senate subcommittee took that chamber's first vote on the measure, unanimously recommending that it pass with an amendment that would prohibit using property taxes to pay for the building. Metro plans to pay for the $595 million building with taxes on hotel rooms and rental cars. The House version will be amended today to add the same prohibition, said Rich Riebeling, Metro's finance director.