Paris City Commission Enacts Temporary Data Center Moratorium, Approves Tax Hike
The Paris City Commission approved a temporary moratorium on data processing center development within city limits to allow officials time to study the issue. This decision was made during a busy meeting where the commission also approved a property tax hike for 2027 and changes to the city's brush pickup schedule. Officials cited concerns about energy use for data centers as a key reason for the moratorium.
The Paris City Commission held a busy meeting, approving several key measures including a temporary moratorium on the development of data processing centers within city limits. City Manager Kim Foster recommended the moratorium, stating that Paris officials need time to study the issue and get ahead of challenges faced by other municipalities, particularly regarding the significant energy demands of data centers.
Commissioner Jackie Jones supported the moratorium, which was approved by the commission. The decision followed discussions with BPU Director Terry Wimberley, who was described as "in step with what's happening" concerning energy use. This action highlights a proactive stance by Paris, Tennessee, to manage the potential impact of data center growth.
In other significant actions, the commission approved a property tax hike of $0.10 per $100 of assessed value for 2027, raising the rate to $0.6703. This increase is intended to fund new personnel positions, including in the fire department and for a city planner, as well as a market adjustment for the police department. The commission also approved a new zone-based brush pickup schedule and forwarded two separate rezoning requests to the planning commission.