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Budget committee forwards multiple transfers and an early-retirement plan to full commission, including $104,270.80 for special elections
Summary
The budget committee advanced several funding transfers (equipment, clerk office replacements, EMS reimbursements), recommended HVAC replacements and surplus auction items, and forwarded an early retirement plan proposal that would pay individual insurance for qualifying retirees until Medicare at 65.
The Cheatham County budget committee met Sept. 15 and advanced multiple fiscal items to the full commission, including transfers and program recommendations.
Committee items forwarded to the commission include: a $7,053.48 transfer from jail litigation tax funds to buy three computers for new jail sergeants; a $32,065 transfer for 17 desktop computers and a printer in the county clerk's office; a $1,048.89 transfer for a letter folder and counterfeit detection/cash counter; a $1,500 transfer for county minute software; a $1,200 EMS reimbursement tied to the River Bluff Triathlon; and a $5,000 contribution from AO Smith to the sheriff's department for a Christmas event. The committee also recommended adding two road-department items to October auction surplus lists: a 1991 International Navistar 7100 and a 2012 Hyster 15-ton drop-deck trailer.
A large transfer—$104,270.80—was recommended to cover costs for two special elections ordered by Governor Bill Lee to fill a vacancy in the U.S. House following a retirement. The county finance presenter said the special primary is set for Oct. 7, 2025, and the special general election is Dec. 2, 2025, and that the county expects no state or federal reimbursement for election costs.
The committee also recommended a $32,000 transfer to replace aging HVAC units in county buildings that failed during recent extreme heat and approved moving an item regarding generator maintenance, a Securus Technologies jail amendment and a GNRC planning contract to the full commission for signature votes.
Separately, the committee voted to advance a proposed early-retirement benefit for employees that would require at least 30 continuous years of service and would pay 100% of an individual retiree's medical coverage until the retiree reaches age 65. The proposed benefit would apply only to employees whose retirement begins Jan. 1, 2026, or later, would not cover family plans, and would end if the retiree obtains other employer-provided coverage. County staff estimated the county's annual cost per retiree at about $10,000 and identified nine current employees with at least 30 years of service; staff said replacement hires typically begin at lower salary steps that would partially offset the cost.
The committee recommended these items to the full commission; no final appropriations were made at the workshop.
