Commissioners approve $63,000 budget amendment for Architect Workshop professional services

Mount Juliet The Board of Commissioners approved a budget amendment on March 24 to appropriate funds for a professional services agreement with the Architect Workshop.

The measure was originally on the consent agenda but was pulled for discussion. Commissioner Malele said she could not support the amendment at second reading, arguing the citys current hiring freeze and tight budget meant the $63,000 would be better used to fill vacant positions. "This $63,000 could go to hiring an employee, if not 2 people," she said.

Commissioners debated whether the expenditure was urgent and whether the citys Fiscal Accountability Ordinance (Ordinance 2021-09) required additional procedural steps for budget amendments exceeding $10,000. City Attorney Burnett said she had not had ample time to review the amendment prior to the meeting but noted the ordinances long list of requirements generally applies to recurring costs; Finance staff said this was a one-time expense.

Finance director Miss Hyer told the board that funds previously budgeted for a halted City Hall project had been rolled back into the fund balance and were not currently committed to other expenditures, a point commissioners said could offset the amendment.

The board suspended rules to remove the item from consent and voted. The mayor called the vote; the motion carried.

Why it matters: The amendment authorizes a one-time payment for architectural services that the city said it needs to plan for potential facilities changes. Commissioners pressed staff on whether the amendment complied with the city's fiscal accountability policy and whether the money should be applied to staffing needs instead.

What's next: Staff will proceed under the professional services agreement; the finance director will provide further clarification on fund sources as requested by commissioners.