[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6190718,"mediaKeyId","5040661-36a4b3ca6cd686327ab67abe12c64e2f","parentId",5040661,"title","Williamson County adopts $903.1 million budget after heated debate over pay raises and tax rate","audioSeconds",10285,"startMs",4029000,"endMs",14314000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5040661-36a4b3ca6cd686327ab67abe12c64e2f&start=4029&end=14314","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5040661-36a4b3ca6cd686327ab67abe12c64e2f/thumbnail_4029000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6190718/Williamson-County/Tennessee/Williamson-County-adopts-9031-million-budget-after-heated-debate-over-pay-raises-and-tax-rate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190718-8ecfb38609286219c67796d58e24c5df/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447590&Signature=U-1YSKCZv-YXteHMlv7wuRz8u46icOs1T3uzgzIe7nOJ2lDpSIlWEE0Wp8WPGxmpdLl0Uhbu2R9~pjGpyhgnqC5~EIRNYFfoi7yDSnEOcx1AOHrHCxLChFtSf8XSpbY62rVjScHK4GnjAFw8wuk31S-E4t1Q-QhxxLyRSC7-xmR1sH878zJfbnSmMjg3XcNnoJ7UkKw27u2mrBDyolKKXuhvtk2YkT4l6uXoe8y4c8ELXjYU6ugZiFLbSA3Pua-ZYqxtkZTWyVLcCz0UPwJQS0-vXVQCtic9Xg28OgMKVj~3SuOFxPpHVV9xyyR6m2O5phZMRFfVVSGRnVP2IZRmAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Williamson County, TN","date","2025-06-20T20:34:57Z","article","After an extended budget session on June 9, the Williamson County Board of Commissioners approved the county’s fiscal 2025–26 budget with final all‑funds appropriations of $903,117,259 following several late amendments and votes to reconsider previously defeated items.

Key decisions

- The commission approved a pay adjustment for the sheriff’s department that county leaders said moves deputies’ pay toward market percentile levels. That public‑safety amendment (which altered the public safety category) passed on a roll call and was added to the budget; later votes adjusted related benefit and employee‑benefit line items across funds.

- Commissioners then considered and ultimately approved an amendment to apply similar market adjustments across county departments (excluding Williamson County Schools). That amendment had initially failed earlier in the meeting but was brought back under a successful motion to reconsider and passed on the second vote. County staff said the amendment increases the budget by approximately $1,085,832 across funds, producing the final all‑funds total of $903,117,259.

- After budget amendments, the commission certified and then set the county tax rate. The commission approved a final tax rate of $1.30 per $100 of assessed value (resolution 6 20 25 5) on a recorded vote of 16‑6.

How commissioners framed the vote

Supporters said higher pay is necessary to address persistent recruitment and retention problems across law enforcement and other county departments. Sheriff Hughes and multiple commissioners described compression (small pay differences between new hires and longer‑tenured staff) and training costs that make turnover expensive. Commissioner Paul Webb and others pushed a broader, county‑wide pay correction to avoid losing employees to neighboring jurisdictions such as Brentwood, Franklin and Rutherford County.

Opponents urged caution about raising the tax rate and recommended additional analysis. Several commissioners said the county should pursue cost‑saving options first — notably projected savings from changes to employee health benefits procurement — and requested a fuller presentation to the entire commission about market comparators before extending market adjustments beyond public safety. Commissioner Lisa Hayes asked for an HR presentation to explain survey percentiles and the proposed implementation.

Budget mechanics and oversight

County staff and budget committee members explained the mechanics behind the final rate and amendments. Commissioners debated whether to budget on a 94% property‑tax collection assumption (a figure staff used in planning) or revert to the more conservative 92% collection figure the county has historically used. Budget staff said 94% was a conservative but feasible estimate; the penny‑level differences in the adopted rate reflected those choices and line‑item adjustments, including insurance premium bid results and school fund balance requirements.

Votes and totals

- Final, amended county budget (all funds): $903,117,259 — approved (amended) on a recorded vote of 16 yes, 5 no, 1 abstain.
- Tax rate: certified revenue‑neutral rate discussed; final adopted tax rate set at $1.30 per $100 assessed value — approved 16 yes, 6 no.

What’s next

Commissioners directed staff to return with detailed charts and a presentation from HR on market percentile methodology, and several members said they expect additional follow‑up from the purchasing and insurance committee about health‑benefits procurement and use of a broker. The commission scheduled the next meeting for July 14.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Williamson County Board of Commissioners Meeting (Special Session) - June 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Commissioners approved the county’s FY2025–26 budget after multiple late amendments that increased pay for deputies and extended raises to county employees; the commission set a tax rate of $1.30 and passed the final, amended budget after reconsideration votes.","taxTitle","Williamson County, Tennessee","taxId",4576,"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},6190723,"Commission approves stop‑loss contract with Cigna after commissioners raise procurement concerns",1716,860000,2576000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5040661-36a4b3ca6cd686327ab67abe12c64e2f&start=860&end=2576","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5040661-36a4b3ca6cd686327ab67abe12c64e2f/thumbnail_860000.jpg","/articles/6190723/Williamson-County/Tennessee/Commission-approves-stoploss-contract-with-Cigna-after-commissioners-raise-procurement-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190723-76091309673ccd1ff01dd4748bf06189/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447590&Signature=X6-Sl0Sgb1azB~sFo8144Vhflfvgdu1f6jea3wNKT39yW3BX1voLIz-M93Nf6eWSsj-V9IJTfe9ThYfYfGwby8O3uradeuWBegFraaZMPRx7ifwpSWczoVU0LmW69PoAeIAQ-f8Cl-GECxdOcKHn5QWeUARIxUJVZqVLrlV1fHH29jeM37IIrqD81851yad~JxkX6zIa1X9bMEmFJ1j~UZhUN8~yEvKKi2fY~gsHgyFT7t-llFqAKBYulL6wIxyxBJeXttKVfGWryIiuQN7vNtfb-jxuJ4BX00hz0foZJpRMV8LOaosppDinZssX2UJporfHRN9S~7DfWyWJiXt4mA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Williamson County commissioners on June 9 approved a resolution authorizing the county mayor to sign a contract with Cigna Healthcare for stop‑loss insurance that will cover the county’s self‑insured employee medical plan. The resolution (6 25 1) was presented at a special called meeting and passed on a recorded vote of 23‑0.

The purchase drew pointed questions from several commissioners about the procurement process. Commissioner Webb, who explained the county is self‑insured and that stop‑loss must be in place annually, said the purchasing and insurance committee followed “the rules of the state purchasing guidelines” and that the stop‑loss line had been discussed at committee meetings. Webb said bids were posted on the county website and through standard distribution channels and that the committee received only one bid specifically for stop‑loss coverage after selecting Cigna for primary medical coverage.

Commissioner Lisa Hayes and Commissioner Richards said the stop‑loss specification was not clear in the original RFP and was effectively buried within a larger medical/prescription RFP. Hayes said, “When you name an RFP for medical and prescription, stop‑loss … was hidden within that document. That’s putting us in a huge disadvantage. No wonder there’s only one person that bid.” Richards said the county’s rules require resolutions that spend money be referred to the budget committee; he said this resolution did not show a contract attached, did not state a price or funding source on the face of the resolution and noted potential litigation risk if bidders can show inadequate public notice under state law.

Other commissioners urged improvements to the county’s procurement and benefits review process. Commissioner Greg Lawrence called for an independent benefits consultant and said non‑incumbent carriers often need more time and clearer data to submit credible stop‑loss quotes. Commissioner Stresser and others supported hiring a broker or consultant to broaden the vendor pool for next year.

County staff and committee members said the stop‑loss item had been discussed in purchasing and insurance committee meetings for months, that bids for casualty and medical coverage had been solicited widely, and that the stop‑loss must be in place to protect the county’s self‑insured plan. The resolution approving the contract with Cigna (6 25 1) was moved by Commissioner Megan Guffey and seconded by Commissioner Steve Smith and passed 23‑0. The minutes record that the bid solicitation produced multiple bids for primary medical coverage but only one bid for stop‑loss.

Commissioners said they intend to review procurement procedures to increase transparency and to seek a benefits consultant/broker to help obtain more competitive bids in future cycles. The county will proceed with the Cigna stop‑loss contract as approved while several commissioners said they will press to change the process for next year.

The action comes ahead of budget votes later in the June meeting that lawmakers said will consider broader employee benefits and pay‑structure changes.","At a special called meeting, the Williamson County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with Cigna for stop‑loss insurance after several commissioners raised concerns that the stop‑loss portion of the RFP had been “buried” and that limited bidding reduced competition.","actionData","errors"]

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Williamson County adopts $903.1 million budget after heated debate over pay raises and tax rate

Commission approves stop‑loss contract with Cigna after commissioners raise procurement concerns