County Budget Committee approves $640K for general expenses and school safety equipment

The Cheatham County government meeting held on July 15, 2025, focused primarily on budget amendments and funding allocations for various departments and projects. The meeting began with a review of budget amendments for the county general fund, totaling $640,051.54. This amount is part of a routine bookkeeping process that involves closing out open purchase orders (POs) from the previous fiscal year and reissuing them for the new fiscal year.

The first item discussed included a transfer of $45,000 from the animal control donation reserve to cover expenses related to rabies and animal control for the current fiscal year. Additionally, $12,500 was allocated from the vendor registry reserve for the sheriff's department, while $3,500 was designated for county building expenses, specifically for veterans' services at Memorial Park.

The meeting also addressed the need for $63,000 in drug control funding, which was previously reserved for the installation of street cameras aimed at monitoring traffic and identifying vehicles entering and exiting the county. Commissioner Gilmore reported that the installation of the first two cameras is expected to occur soon.

Further discussions included a capital project budget of $781,005 for a maintenance building, which is also part of the closing process for last year's POs. The school board's request for funding was noted, with a maximum of $160,700 allocated for King County Central High School and $224,000 for safety equipment at the middle and high schools.

The meeting concluded with a vote on two items requiring the mayor's signature: a working service agreement for software used by the county office and a virtual academy agreement with an addendum for the jail. All budget items discussed were approved unanimously by the budget committee and presented to the council for final approval.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the county's ongoing commitment to public health, safety, and infrastructure improvements, with a focus on responsible financial management and transparency.