Cheatham County commissioners on Monday approved a $1.100.000 amendment to the highway/public-works budget after debating whether to prioritize hot-mix paving or redirect part of the department's fund balance toward a proposed highway garage.

The commission voted to amend the original allocation by reducing the hot-mix line and setting aside $425,000 for a highway garage; the amendment passed on a 9-3 roll call. The full motion to approve the $1.1 million package as amended then passed unanimously, 12-0.

The amendment grew out of discussion after Highway Department staff acknowledged an unexpectedly large fund balance. Commissioners and staff said the department had roughly $3.4 million in fund balance; $400,000 of that had already been earmarked earlier for the garage when the land was purchased. Commissioners pressed for clarity on how much the department needed for equipment and paving before finalizing a funding split.

Opponents of the amendment said the county should ensure the highway department had sufficient funds for anticipated equipment and paving needs before diverting more money to a building. Commissioner Randy Lyle and others said the department's equipment costs remained uncertain and should take priority. Supporters argued the department's fund balance was sufficient to cover both added paving and a one-year allocation toward a garage project.

County staff said they had checked with CTAS and with the state comptroller's office and auditors; those offices told the commission it could reallocate legally available fund balances but cautioned that some highway receipts are restricted to specific uses. A county staff member summarized: if money is legally available and not restricted, the commission ultimately controls the budget.

Key clarifying figures cited in the discussion included a $1.1 million total amendment, an original hot-mix request in the roughly $800,000'00,000'range (variously described in discussion), and the amendment that reduced hot mix to $425,000 and allocated $425,000 toward the highway garage. Commissioners also left other specific line items (pipe, striping, equipment) in the package.

Commissioners agreed the bidding and equipment estimates should be refined going forward; several said they preferred final cost estimates for the garage before allocating additional fund balance permanently.

The full roll-call on the amendment: 9 yes, 3 no (Diana Lovell, Gary Venkley, Jim Gilmore recorded as voting no on the amendment). The final approval of the $1.1 million package as amended was recorded 12 yes, 0 no.

The vote means staff may proceed under the amended budget allocations; commissioners indicated they expect to receive more detailed cost estimates on equipment and the garage design before any additional commitments are made.