[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6243905,"mediaKeyId","3237130-a16e4f3f8e3c4ff173a070937dd822a2","parentId",3237130,"title","Budget panel flags rising election costs, defers convenience-voting changes pending further data","audioSeconds",1780,"startMs",9256000,"endMs",11036000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3237130-a16e4f3f8e3c4ff173a070937dd822a2&start=9256&end=11036","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3237130-a16e4f3f8e3c4ff173a070937dd822a2/thumbnail_9256000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6243905/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Budget-panel-flags-rising-election-costs-defers-convenience-voting-changes-pending-further-data","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243905-4f7e7aad5d6ae183a687eed3b0b271af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771025459&Signature=NqnygQbciOVzNf9lPRuzFoOJKm4cK5NvYzjUUDHI8fuLkZlgh7Wk7ebaEdXbmes2JF36WeMKYWYWieHPFefvW-Qv6u-OHPUYySbOXU~vm5Te6G~UIBZGRW~NH~6hrWV2xvp0YW~ADgP0lX4RSxdxn9HDteElkSIDYa93qtK92Eap3HqeuHm6d302Rx9ppWhSJmGoJfVwCcR2aEJH1kduTcFoQ~m2lThCCALdoECiZgJ1ffe7b7SPcrkJHGDzcB1~HyyX-~9wwh5i~Nu9Sheju~p7hEsZaPzZ6MSd0k41UH1aHA02-05h2IsfF9F4~VtVhpGgGy2-19Buof3hiO0~fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sumner County, TN","date","2025-05-08T21:40:11Z","article","Sumner County’s budget committee reviewed a detailed benchmarking and expenditure report from the election commission and discussed a roughly 32% increase in election-related expenditures in the most recent cycle. Committee members debated convenience voting, early-voting hours and poll-worker costs but did not take a formal vote to change election operations.

Staff presented comparative data for four peer counties and showed that differences in early-voting days, total early-voting hours and precinct arrangements substantially affect per-election costs. The committee heard that Sumner County had more early-voting days in one comparison (about 35 days in one cycle) while comparable counties had different mixes of extended hours and fewer days; one peer, Wilson County, reported substantially different hours and lower per-capita election cost in the benchmarking.

Members discussed the operational impacts of moving to broader convenience voting (more shared voting centers) versus maintaining precinct-based voting. Commissioners voiced concern about federal rule changes potentially affecting local setups and said they did not want to invest heavily in a convenience-voting infrastructure only to have higher-level rules change. Several commissioners asked the election office to return with a normalized set of operational metrics (hours, staffing, machines and estimated per-site costs), ballot-storage procedures, and a line-item explanation for the increased overtime and temporary-worker payments in the most recent cycle.

No substantive budget reallocation or policy decision on convenience voting was made at the meeting. The committee asked election staff to return for a focused briefing with final FY projections, polling-worker pay schedules, and details on precinct versus convenience-center staffing and equipment needs. The panel also noted that final sales-tax numbers and other revenue inputs could affect how much budget headroom exists for operational changes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Committee (Cam2) 5/8/25","oneSentenceSummary","Committee reviewed election commission budget showing year-over-year increases in several line items and debated convenience voting and early-voting hours; members asked election staff to return with operational detail and deferred policy changes until federal/state guidance and updated cost data are available.","taxTitle","Sumner County, Tennessee","taxId",19115,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6243910,"Committee approves conditional funding for library hours and reviews software switch; Hendersonville director outlines options",434,5636000,6070000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3237130-a16e4f3f8e3c4ff173a070937dd822a2&start=5636&end=6070","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3237130-a16e4f3f8e3c4ff173a070937dd822a2/thumbnail_5636000.jpg","/articles/6243910/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Committee-approves-conditional-funding-for-library-hours-and-reviews-software-switch-Hendersonville-director-outlines-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243910-1f84bb1090f54df30206ee08cc4fc88c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771025459&Signature=OyQs3yDSZQk3NjZh4Ziks5izJW~v8AcpidBTO47JV5V3k0ehY7WG~BPuf4bShqVsyJ7M4T6ayMlXW6ccuZYjrn9fEQBCcu--Xzs5FQVu44U~zORHuqzmk~i06pBimRPevlhfg41dcxk6FeEGK0IQDz0fNoobCu5HEi3xC4Y3SXsSRCYocIXcJ8doULKnbUR2w03JatvPQn2voapxK-QE0oNlsp27fAWSGHflDsKW1WVkdP0oDS8iEaUERKsgO-~2tloE2TKxWKp36NzRDb~~wrzdH1WN4Ba7ji4MEdF2WBtb3P9WuVARPVX1HmaesFEVSFGVhyVUqMTABzfLkVq05w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sumner County’s budget committee agreed to conditional funding to allow libraries to restore operating hours and to review a vendor change for shared library cataloging software.

Kristen Lima, interim director at Hendersonville Library, told the committee she had researched alternative integrated library systems. She reported the county’s current provider (TLC) charges roughly $20,000 annually for the county’s library, while a provider called Atrium would charge roughly $5,000 per year after a one-time migration fee. Lima said Atrium appeared functionally capable but would require a new website provider and further integration checks; a third, newer option would make the county an early adopter in Tennessee and lacked state-level interoperability testing.

Commissioners moved to authorize a contingent funding package: use a $20,000 private gift (from a city gift account) to cover one-time migration costs and appropriate an additional $5,000 in annual funding contingent on Hendersonville opening an additional library day and confirming staffing and service details. The committee recorded the motion and a second; members included an amendment defining the extra day as a paid, staffed day. Committee members requested that library staff return with a detailed line-item cost breakdown for both migration and ongoing support.

Separately, commissioners approved capital maintenance allocations for several libraries. Committee discussion increased an initial motion for capital funding to $50,000 after an amendment; the funds were described as intended for building maintenance, HVAC and furniture replacement. Library staff said some items were maintenance rather than new capital projects and asked that funds be used to maintain existing assets.

Staff were directed to confirm the terms of any software contract termination, to verify maintenance agreements and to return with detailed cost estimates and a timeline for any migration before July 1.","Budget committee agreed to contingent funding to restore library hours and to cover software changeover costs if Hendersonville Library opens an extra service day; commissioners also approved capital maintenance funding for local libraries.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6243916,"Commissioners claw back $2 million for courthouse project; debate centers on space needs, costs and public safety",1393,3736000,5129000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3237130-a16e4f3f8e3c4ff173a070937dd822a2&start=3736&end=5129","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3237130-a16e4f3f8e3c4ff173a070937dd822a2/thumbnail_3736000.jpg","/articles/6243916/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Commissioners-claw-back-2-million-for-courthouse-project-debate-centers-on-space-needs-costs-and-public-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243916-8355e8f04eb2c2838c4db67caa6ada90/orig.mp4?Expires=1771025459&Signature=EC777wuWCZHjlJU93LIb8URuDRu7vzxt-KkdxyAtHbsuERdhUYfKaO3iHdHeo2o7Sh6Byy0Zq4IoDXhkbSFv85uCPJcLSQZ3er42tNr7709fJ0iA2eq7nq7ZzEZk9gXt~kMMCDfC613WziLCwLsUqIHHdXyCzkenr7j6mKJbfQfNIA-fJcAEt4dTSSgGaCiCXREuvqV-1M46Q1vmT81ZpDfZKRP5xM24hPW-e1baptMAkfK2gwHceZ-CeHdXT1-tuFi-ORVSRB~qtzsshvfyaJlPTkwdYNhC9AvVFKqdXCY2vfpFz4Z9qJtENVLCocIA4OLoSXTCfxDbwcOxMQmNcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sumner County commissioners voted to remove a previously proposed $2 million capital allocation earmarked for courthouse improvements as part of a larger budget review, prompting extended discussion about courtroom needs, sheriff facilities and the tradeoff between one-time capital spending and recurring operations.

Commissioner Harrison moved to strike the $2,000,000 from the capital projects allocation; the motion carried in committee. Following the vote, staff said work would be stopped on the courthouse project for now and that earlier design work could be re-used if the project is reauthorized.

Finance staff and project managers briefed the committee on updated project numbers. An architect’s fee originally described at about $89,000 had been negotiated down to roughly $27,000, and the project’s construction estimate was described in the meeting as approximately $1.5 million rather than an earlier $2 million figure. Staff said those savings were partly possible because prior design documents existed and could be reused.

Several commissioners cautioned that removing capital funding does not address recurring operational needs for sheriff, EMS and probation staff. One commissioner argued that using one-time capital to cover recurring personnel costs would be fiscally unsound. Others said the county should preserve capital for necessary construction because construction inputs and inflation are rising.

Committee members discussed alternatives to fund public-safety equipment and positions, including reallocating other local one-time funds and examining whether planned sheriff facility improvements could be scaled. Commissioners asked staff to supply space-planning costs and designs; the committee agreed to put $100,000 toward initial planning for the sheriff’s facility rather than funding a full $4.5 million construction allocation at this time.

The committee also discussed timing and logistics: staff said the mayor had not yet signed the architect contract and that stopping work now would allow the county to back out without substantial costs. Staff will return with detailed space plans and updated cost estimates before the committee considers additional capital appropriation.","Commissioner Harrison’s motion to remove a $2 million capital allocation for courthouse improvements passed. Commissioners and staff discussed revised architect fees, a lower construction estimate, the sheriff’s space needs and whether to reassign capital funds to public-safety operations.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6243921,"Sumner County shifts one penny from capital to general fund as committee narrows budget gap",4801,464000,5265000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3237130-a16e4f3f8e3c4ff173a070937dd822a2&start=464&end=5265","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3237130-a16e4f3f8e3c4ff173a070937dd822a2/thumbnail_464000.jpg","/articles/6243921/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Sumner-County-shifts-one-penny-from-capital-to-general-fund-as-committee-narrows-budget-gap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243921-2ca5a5e1db399353d2a4895295fc6118/orig.mp4?Expires=1771025459&Signature=IXOup5L1lvW2VFS7oW2qdfcmm5IuIA5cZOuHW6HiqayvAAXuf6Uq5uIcthp~LrX1C36aud8I8vujF4tG~T~vAZKIecbTY4VvOyXdZvdBHyQX-DjMwaY-LjgYUPUVqV118LZ12AVw~lB4j3raM6rVZmO7ttGdzqYysiJaW~ZnWY973gnCeLTiMMPfUUM3dnqDqov4zGPES1mDg8k24fd2I1yVoBYpuh365e269OKrvDcqFT6QistwAkeptkYhooRPoJ9ZfMc-GMN~sqdgdlnXfyQBntq6k7DBYHjK1BIlmgddbvFPj1LZlFKeQi3kgTmmXJtIC-Ucvac1BEuJ8f0cCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sumner County’s budget committee voted to shift one penny of the property-tax levy from the capital projects fund into the general fund, increasing the county’s operating resources as staff and commissioners worked through competing revenue and reserve assumptions.

The move—announced during a marathon budget review meeting—will change the county’s recurring allocation from three pennies to four pennies for the upcoming fiscal plan. Commissioner Nance made the motion to transfer the additional penny; a second was recorded and the motion carried.

County finance staff told the committee the county’s unassigned fund balance was about $41,000,000 and described a “delta” between budgeted unassigned revenues and appropriations. Staff said revenues are being kept conservative because of recession risk and one-time COVID-era grants that skew year-to-year comparisons. The finance presentation noted roughly $14,700,000 in a separate reoccurring balance that had been used in prior years to smooth debt-service needs.

Committee discussion focused on tradeoffs between short-term operational relief and long-term capital planning. Several commissioners said the extra penny shortens the runway for capital projects and could reduce the county’s multi-year ability to fund one-time projects without borrowing. Others said the county’s revenue collections and historical carryover make the transfer reasonable for a multi-year plan.

Finance staff recommended continuing conservative revenue assumptions (they used a tax collection assumption in the high 97% range), while monitoring sales-tax receipts and property-tax appeals. Commissioners said they would revisit the levy allocation after final sales-tax numbers were posted and after school district figures arrived.

The committee also directed staff to continue work on a detailed revenue and assumptions worksheet and to return with updated projections near the next scheduled meeting, so members could confirm whether the penny transfer should be sustained in the final budget.","Budget committee voted to move one penny of property-tax levy from the capital projects fund into the general fund to cover operating needs and narrow a projected budget shortfall; commissioners debated reserves, recession risk and long-term impacts on capital projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Budget panel flags rising election costs, defers convenience-voting changes pending further data

Committee approves conditional funding for library hours and reviews software switch; Hendersonville director outlines options

Commissioners claw back $2 million for courthouse project; debate centers on space needs, costs and public safety

Sumner County shifts one penny from capital to general fund as committee narrows budget gap