ÿWPC  B# ¬UN· % 0 ( w@34s‡– 0lž 0D ÆNUHb\ 0Jd 0T® 0D 0^F 0h¤ 0r 0|~ Bú AQ 0Dh 0@¬ 0Dì 0†0 D/¶ 0å Bu D3’ 1uÅ 0d: U>ž U*Ü U 6y<B)µDCÞ AM!U*n&˜´¾rw3z­v~´vÓ2˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ ßPàDáDâãDäåDæçÓ€ñê‚_#3|xõ((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5<à09Z 0Courier (WT) Regular- ù-2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô(3¯$©©Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô d "#$&Cþÿ<< Cÿÿ(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô(('÷ÿ dxd2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔüÿP Pd'ÿÿdxd%' ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman< Œ 9p`(Times< Œ 9p`(Courier New oÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€2ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ)ÝÝ  ÝÌÌÌ% Line 7 d66667Border 1dd #7Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€2ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€9ÔÔ€9ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€9XÔÌÌJune€1,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó ªÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€2ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€4ÔÔ€4ôÔ€ð ðThe€Supreme€Court€may,€at€its€discretion,€answer€questions€of€lawÏcertified€to€it€by€...€a€District€Court€of€the€United€States€in€TennesseeÏ....€€This€rule€may€be€invoked€when€the€certifying€court€determines€that,Ïin€a€proceeding€before€it,€there€are€questions€of€law€of€this€state€which€willÏbe€determinative€of€the€cause€and€as€to€which€it€appears€to€the€certifyingÏcourt€there€is€no€controlling€precedent€in€the€decisions€of€the€Supreme€CourtÏof€Tennessee.ðð€€Tenn.€R.€S.€Ct.€23.Ì ûÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€2ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€4ÔÔ€4ôÔ€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€67„5„1301(a)(12)€(Supp.€1997).€Ì ùÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€2ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€4ÔÔ€4ôÔ€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€67„5„1301(a)(1)€(Supp.€1997).Ì )Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€2ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€4ÔÔ€4ôÔ€CSX€did€not€challenge€its€assessment€for€1993,€and€Illinois€CentralÏonly€challenged€tax€years€1994€and€1995.Ì ýÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€2ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€Ô€4ÔÔ€4ôÔThe€airlines€asserted€that€the€Boardððs€assessment€violated€49€U.S.C.€ððÏ40116(d)€(1997)€of€the€Tax€Equity€and€Fiscal€Responsibility€Act€of€1982.€€TheÏrailroads€asserted€that€the€assessments€challenged€violate€section€306€of€theÏRailroad€Revitalization€and€Regulatory€Reform€Act€of€1976,€49€U.S.C.€ðð€11501Ï(1997).ÌPtPtHHØ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€2ÔÝ  ÝÒ À ÒÒ À ÒØ ØÓ&€33XÐd&ÓÑ  ÑÑ H ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÔ€4ԛрÑÑ7€´\XXdÈdÈ7ÑÖ€5ÖÑ  ÑœÞ ÞÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àJune€1,€1998›à àà àà àà àà àà àà àœà àà àà à›à àòòFORÏPUBLICATIONóóÌÌà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÙ€ ÙœßR€8:7A1-j|Vü(` ç `€€@ÿRß›Ìà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌNORTHWEST€AIRLINES,€INC.,à àà à(ÌFEDERAL€EXPRESS€CORPORATION,à àà à(ÌAMERICAN€AIRLINES,€INC.,€FLAGSHIPà à(ÌAIRLINES,€AND€DELTA€AIR€LINES,€à à(ÌINC.,à àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àPlaintiffs„Petitioners,à àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(€€Certified€Question€from€theÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(€€United€States€District€CourtÌv.à àà àà àà àà àà àà à(€€for€the€Middle€District€ofÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(€€TennesseeÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(ÌTENNESSEE€STATE€BOARD€OF€à àà à(€€Hon.€Thomas€A.€Wiseman,€Jr.,ÌEQUALIZATION,à àà àà àà àà à(€€JudgeÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àDefendant„Respondent,à àà à(€€No.€01S01„9702„FD„00030Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìandà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(ÌCSX€TRANSPORTATION,€INC.,à àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àPlaintiff„Petitioner,à àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìv.à àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(ÌTENNESSEE€STATE€BOARD€OFà àà àà à(ÌEQUALIZATION,à àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àDefendant„Respondent,à àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìandà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(ÌILLINOIS€CENTRAL€RAILROAD€COMPANY,à à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àPlaintiff„Petitioner,à àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìv.à àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(ÌTENNESSEE€STATE€BOARD€OFà àà àà à(ÌEQUALIZATION,à àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àDefendant„Respondent.à àà à(ÌòòœFor›€Plaintiffs„Petitionersóó:à àà àà àòòFor€Defendant„Respondentóó:ÌÌStephen€D.€Goodwinà àà àà àà àà àJohn€Knox€WalkupÌJanis€Wild€Kesserà àà àà àà àà àAttorney€General€&€ReporterÌBaker,€Donelson,€Bearman€&€Caldwellà àNashvilleÌMemphisÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àJimmy€G.€Creecyà àÌJames€W.€McBrideà àà àà àà àà àChief€Special€CounselÌBaker,€Donelson,€Bearman€&€Caldwellà àNashvilleÌWashington,€D.C.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àDaryl€J.€BrandÌÑ  ÑÑ ° Ñà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àSenior€CounselÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àNashvilleÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àò òòòO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àREID,€SP.€J.ÌÌÓ` ` h—XÓÓÓà àPursuant€to€Rule€23€of€the€Rules€of€the€Supreme€Court€ofÏTennessee× ƒ; ××  ×,€this€Court€has€accepted€from€the€United€States€DistrictÏCourt€for€the€Middle€District€of€Tennessee€a€certified€question€of€lawÏregarding€the€effect€of€the€1996€amendment€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€67„5„1512(b)(2)€on€the€calculation€of€interest€on€property€tax€payments€andÏrefunds.€€ÌÌà@ àò òIó óÌÌà àThe€petitioners,€Northwest€Airlines,€Inc.,€Federal€ExpressÏCorp.,€American€Airlines,€Inc.,€Flagship€Airlines,€and€Delta€AirÍLines,€Inc.,€which€are€ð ðcommercial€air€carrier€companies,ðð× ƒ< ××  ×€andÏpetitioners€CSX€Transportation,€Inc.,€and€Illinois€Central€RailroadÏCo.,€which€are€ð ðrailroad€companies,ðð× ƒ= ××  ×€filed€suit€in€the€district€courtÏagainst€the€respondent€Tennessee€State€Board€of€Equalization,€allegingÏthat€the€Stateððs€assessment€of€the€petitionersðð€ad€valorem€propertyÏtaxes€for€1990,€1991,€1992,€1993,€1994,€and€1995,× ƒ> ××  ×€resulted€inÏdiscriminatory€taxation€in€violation€of€certain€federal€statutes.× ƒ? ××  ×€€TheÏparties€reached€a€settlement€of€all€issues€presented€in€the€case,Ïexcept€the€issue€before€this€Court,€the€appropriate€interest€rate€toÏbe€applied€to€refunds€and€additional€payments€due.€€The€settlement€wasÏapproved€by€the€district€court.€€Pursuant€to€the€settlement,€theÏpetitioners€owed€taxes€to€some€counties€and€municipalities€and€wereÏdue€refunds€from€others.€€ÌÌà àSpecifically,€the€certified€question€is€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àWhether€any€or€all€of€the€present€payments€orÏrefunds€of€property€taxes€for€tax€years€1990Ïthrough€1995,€all€of€which€payments€and€refundsÏwill€be€made€after€April€22,€1996,€should€beÏcalculated€at€two€percentage€points€below€theÏcomposite€prime€rate€as€provided€by€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€67„5„1512(b)(2),€as€amended€effective€AprilÏ22,€1996,€or€whether€some€or€all€of€the€interestÏshould€be€calculated€at€the€composite€prime€rateÏas€provided€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€67„5„1512(b)(2)Ïprior€to€April€22,€1996€and€in€effect€during€theÏtax€years€in€question?ÌÌÓÓÌà@ àò òIIó óÌÌà àThe€property€of€railroad€and€commercial€air€carrierÏcompanies€œis›€assessed€for€state,€county,€and€municipal€taxation€by€theÏcomptroller€of€the€treasury.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€67„5„1301€(Supp.Ï1997).€€Those€assessments€are€subject€to€review€by€the€State€Board€ofÏEqualization,€which€makes€the€final€œassessments.›€€òòIdóó.€€ÌÌÌà àTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€67„5„1512€provides€that€if€an€assessmentÏof€property€tax€made€by€the€Board€of€Equalization€is€challenged,€theÏtaxpayer€may€pay€either€the€full€tax€assessment€to€the€local€taxingÏjurisdiction,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€67„5„1512(b)(1)(A)(ii)(a),€or€pay€theÏundisputed€portion€of€the€tax€to€the€local€taxing€jurisdiction,€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€67„5„1512(b)(1)(A)(ii)(b).€€When€the€proper€assessment€isÍfinally€determined,€interest€on€the€underpayment€or€overpayment€isÏimposed€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€67„5„1512(b)(2)(A)€and€(B).€€Prior€toÏApril€22,€1996€that€provision€read€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 à(b)(2)(A)€Except€as€provided€in€subdivisionÏ(b)(2)(B),€if€the€taxpayer€has€made€a€payment€inÏaccordance€with€subdivision€(b)(1)€and€prevails€onÏappeal,€the€county€or€municipality€shall€payÏinterest€at€òòthe€rate€of€the€composite€prime€rateóóÏas€published€by€the€federal€reserve€board€as€ofÏthe€date€such€taxes€would€have€normally€becomeÏdelinquent.€€Such€interest€shall€be€calculatedÏfrom€March€1,€or€the€date€the€taxes€would€haveÏbecome€delinquent€under€the€municipal€charter;Ïprovided,€that€in€any€county€included€in€theÏprovisions€of€Acts€1989,€ch.€550;€ðððð€8„21€or€inÏany€county€which€by€private€act€adopts€similarÏprovisions€to€those€contained€in€such€provisionsÏof€Acts€1989,€ch.€550,€the€delinquency€date€shallÏbe€February1.€€Such€interest€shall€be€calculatedÏupon€the€amount€paid€in€excess€of€the€taxes€due€asÏdetermined€by€final€action€of€the€state€board€ofÏequalization€or€the€assessment€appeals€commission.€ÏIf€the€taxpayer€loses€or€withdraws€the€appeal€orÏit€is€determined€that€taxes€in€excess€of€theÏamount€paid,€if€any,€pursuant€to€subdivisionÏ(b)(1)€are€owed,€then€such€taxpayer€shall€pay,€inÏaddition€to€such€amount,€interest€at€the€same€rateÏon€the€balance€of€the€amount€due€as€provided€inÏthis€subdivision.ÌÌà8 à€€€€€(B)€If€the€taxpayer€prevails€in€any€appeal€toÏthe€local€or€state€board€of€equalization,€theÏcounty€or€municipality€shall,€within€sixty€(60)Ïdays€from€the€date€of€the€final€action€by€theÏstate€board€of€equalization€or€assessment€appealsÏcommission,€refund€any€overpayment€in€taxesÏtogether€with€interest€thereon€at€òòthe€rate€of€theÏcomposite€prime€rateóó€as€published€by€the€federalÏreserve€board€computed€from€the€date€theÏoverpayment€was€made€until€the€date€refunded.€€TheÏprovisions€of€this€subdivision€(b)(2)(B)€onlyÍapply€in€counties€having€a€population€greater€thanÏseven€hundred€seventy€thousand€(770,000)€accordingÏto€the€l980€federal€census€or€any€subsequentÏfederal€census.ÌÌÌÌÓÓ(Emphasis€added.)ÌÌà àSection€2€of€chapter€787€of€the€1996€Public€Acts€amended€theÏstatute€by€deleting€the€words€ð ðat€the€rate€of€the€composite€primeÏrate,ðð€in€subdivision€(A)€and€(B)€and€substituting€the€words€ð ðat€theÏrate€of€two€(2)€percentage€points€below€the€composite€prime€rate.ðð€ÏThe€amendment€became€effective€April22,€1996.€€ÌÌà àThe€taxpayers€contend€that€the€post„amendment€rate€should€beÏapplied€even€to€interest€accruing€prior€to€the€amendmentððs€effectiveÏdate,€April€22,€1996.€€They€also€contend€that€because€theÏcertification€of€a€final€assessment€by€the€state€board€of€equalizationÏfor€each€taxable€year€will€not€occur€until€after€April22,€1996,Ïapplication€of€the€1996€amendment€would€not€be€a€retroactiveÏapplication.€€They€argue,€in€the€alternative,€that€the€amendmentÏshould€be€applied€retroactively€to€the€interest€due€on€unpaid€orÏoverpaid€taxes.€€ÌÌÌà@ àò òIIó óÌÌà àIn€Tennessee,€amendments€to€tax€statutes€are€presumed€to€beÏprospective€in€application€unless€an€intention€to€the€contrary€isÏclearly€expressed.€€For€example,€in€òòNashville€Ry.€&€Light€Co.€v.ÏNorve1lóó,€122€Tenn.€613,€124€S.W.€613€(1910),€the€issue€was€whether€aÏback€assessment€could€be€based€on€an€amendment€revising€the€method€forÏassessing€the€property€of€street€railway€companies.€€The€Court€stated,Ïð ðthe€act€of€1905€[providing€the€new€method€of€assessing€street€railwayÏcompanies]€was€wholly€prospective€in€its€operation,€as€statutesÏusually€are€unless€the€contrary€clearly€appears.ðð€€òòIdóó.€at€614.€€InÏreaching€that€decision,€the€Court€in€òòNorvellóó€relied€on€what€isÏcurrently€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€1„3„101€(1994):ÌÌÓÓà8 àThe€repeal€of€a€statute€does€not€affect€any€rightÏwhich€accrued,€any€duty€imposed,€any€penaltyÏincurred,€nor€any€proceeding€commenced,€under€orÏby€virtue€of€the€statute€repealed.ÌÌÓÓÌAnd€more€recently,€in€òòWoods€v.€TRW,€Inc.óó,€557€S.W.2d€274,€275€(Tenn.Ï1977),€the€Court€held€that€amendments€to€statutes€dealing€with€theÏcollection€of€taxes€are€presumed€to€apply€prospectively.€€Prior€to€anÏamendment€in€1973,€the€statute€in€question€provided€that€theÏDepartment€of€Revenue€had€a€period€of€six€years€in€which€to€instituteÏproceedings€to€collect€taxes,€including€corporate,€franchise,€andÏexcise€taxes.€€The€tax€year€involved€was€1971,€for€which€the€corporateÍtaxpayer€filed€its€franchise€and€excise€tax€return€in€1972.€€Under€theÏpre„1973€amendment,€the€œDepartment›€had€until€January1,€1977€toÏcommence€proceedings€to€collect€additional€taxes.€€In€1973,€at€whichÏtime€no€assessment€for€additional€taxes€had€been€made€by€theÏœDepartment,›€the€General€Assembly€enacted€an€amendment€which€shortenedÏthe€period€of€limitations€to€three€years.€€Under€the€amended€statute,Ïif€it€applied€to€the€taxpayer€in€question,€the€department€had€untilÏDecember31,€1975€to€make€an€assessment.€€An€assessment€was€made€onÏMarch€19,€1976.€€The€Court€held€that€the€General€Assembly€had€theÏauthority,€under€the€United€States€Constitution€and€the€ConstitutionÏof€Tennessee,€to€enact€an€amendment€regarding€the€collection€of€taxesÏthat€had€a€retroactive€effect,€but,€in€the€absence€of€clear€languageÏto€the€contrary,€it€would€not€interpret€such€an€amendment€to€beÏretroactive.€€The€Court€stated€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àWe€do€not€question€the€authorities€cited€by€theÏChancellor€and€by€the€taxpayer€to€the€effect€thatÏthe€legislature€has€the€general€power€to€make€manyÏkinds€of€statutes,€including€limitations€forÏcollecting€taxes,€retroactive€to€prior€years,€ifÏit€clearly€expresses€such€an€intention.€ÏOrdinarily,€however,€statutes€enacted€by€theÏGeneral€Assembly€are€given€prospective€operationÏand€will€be€so€construed€unless€a€clear€intentionÏto€the€contrary€is€found€in€their€provisions.€€òòSeeóóÏòòCates€v.€T.I.M.E.,€D.C.,€Inc.óó,€513€S.W.2d€508,€510Ï(Tenn.€1974);€òòJennings€v.€Jenningsóó,€165€Tenn.€295,Ï303,€54€S.W.2d€961€(1932;€òòDugger€v.€Insurance€Co.óó,Ï95€Tenn.€245,€249,€32€S.W.€5€(1895).ÌÌÌÌòòId.óó€at€275.€€ÌÓÓÌà àIn€òòElectric€Power€Bd.€of€Metropolitan€Government€ofÏNashville€and€Davidson€County€v.€Woodsóó,€558€S.W.2d€821€(Tenn.€1977),Ïthe€Court€again€affirmed€the€principle€that€statutory€amendmentsÏdealing€with€the€enforcement€of€tax€collection€are€presumed€to€beÏprospective€in€operation.€€In€that€case€the€Nashville€Electric€ServiceÏwas€assessed€a€penalty€for€delinquent€sales€taxes€for€tax€year€1975.€ÏThe€Court€held€that€a€1977€statute€authorizing€the€department€to€waiveÏpenalties€in€cases€of€clerical€error€should€not€be€appliedÏretroactively:€ð ðIn€the€absence€of€legislative€intent€or€a€necessaryÏinference€that€a€statute€is€to€have€retroactive€force,€an€act€of€theÏlegislature€is€to€be€given€prospective€effect€only€by€the€courts.ðð€ÏòòIdóó.€at€825.ÌÌà àIn€cases€cited€by€the€petitioners€supporting€a€retroactiveÏapplication,€the€amendments€contained€express€language€providing€forÏretroactive€application€or€the€retroactive€application€was€not€atÏissue.€€òòSeeóó€œòòe.g.óó,€òòCombustion›€Engineering,€Inc.€v.€œJacksonóó,›€705€S.W.2dÏ655€(Tenn.€1986),€òòGenesco,€Inc.€v.€Woodsóó,€578€S.W.2d€639€(Tenn.€1979),ÏòòState€v.€Boneóó,€183€Tenn.€78,€203€S.W.2d€362€(1947),€òòSherrill€v.ÏThomasonóó,€145€Tenn.€499,€238€S.W.€876€(1922),€and€òòMyers€v.€Parkóó,€55ÏTenn.€550€(1875).ÌÌà àIn€the€case€before€the€Court,€the€1996€amendment€does€notÏprovide€that€the€interest€rate€be€applied€retroactively.€ÏConsequently,€the€new€rate€of€interest€should€be€applied€on€and€afterÏthe€effective€date€of€the€amendment.€€òòCfóó.€òòNoe€v.€City€of€Chicagoóó,€307ÏN.E.2d€376,€379€(Ill.€œ1974).Ì›ÌÌà@ àò òIIIó óÌÌà àThe€answer€to€the€certified€question€is€that€only€theÏinterest€on€payments€or€refunds€of€property€taxes€accruing€after€AprilÏ22,€1996€are€to€be€calculated€at€two€percentage€points€below€theÏcomposite€prime€rate€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€67„5„1512(b)(2)€(Supp.Ï1997).ÌÌà àThe€clerk€will€transmit€this€opinion€in€accordance€with€RuleÏ23,€Section€8€of€the€Rules€of€the€Supreme€Court.€ÌÌà àThe€costs€in€this€Court€will€be€taxed€to€the€petitioners.ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà à____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àLyle€Reid,€Special€JusticeÌÌÌConcur:ÌÌAnderson,€C.J.,€Drowota,€Birch,Ì€€and€Holder,€JJ.Ì