Commission approves $15 million for county forensic center; debate over PBA oversight delays assignment

The Rutherford County Commission on March 13 authorized $15,000,000 to design, construct and furnish a county forensic center in Smyrna, funding the project from a mix of dedicated development tax proceeds, committed funds and unassigned general‑fund balance.

The funding resolution lists $671,390.31 from the general fund development tax, $4,750,000 from committed general‑fund dollars and $9,578,609.69 from unassigned fund balance to reach the $15 million total. Supporters said the county needs in‑county forensic capability to reduce turnaround times, improve investigator access to pathologists, and better serve families.

“Having a forensic center here would give those investigators the time to be there on‑site,” one investigator said in the presentation, arguing that travel to Davidson County now often consumes an entire workday. Former county coroner Carl Huggins urged commissioners to support construction, noting prior studies and business plans presented over several years.

Commissioners debated transparency, procurement and timing. Commissioner Harris proposed (and later withdrew and reintroduced) an amendment to assign construction and oversight to the county’s Public Building Authority (PBA), which some commissioners said could save money through a different procurement and oversight process. County legal and finance staff said there are pros and cons: the PBA can use a construction‑manager approach that may reduce cost, but this project already has a construction manager under contract and moving oversight could require contract re‑writes and a short delay. The county finance director said the $25,000 administrative amount proposed for PBA oversight was “not material” but acknowledged complexity in reassignment.

Architects and the construction manager described a near‑final guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and warned that redoing assignments or restarting procurement rounds could add cost and delay. “If we start the process over, you’re going to cost that project about 8 to 12% per year in inflation cost,” the project manager said, noting tariff and material‑cost risks.

After debate, the core funding motion authorizing the project was approved on a recorded vote of 17 yes and 3 no. Separately, a later motion to assign the forensic center and a neighboring EMS station to the PBA failed on a vote of 4 yes and 16 no. County staff said core procurement and contract protections remain in place, and that any change orders or budget increases would return to purchasing and, when required, to the commission for additional funding.

Supporters said the forensic center will reduce backlogs, increase training opportunities and allow investigators and pathologists to work side‑by‑side; critics warned about rushing contracts, potential cost exposure from delay, and the need for continued transparency and legal oversight. Commissioners who supported the funding emphasized the public‑safety benefits and the desire to avoid long waits at out‑of‑county facilities.

The funding motion passed and the commission directed staff to proceed with contract administration; commissioners also discussed but did not complete assignment of oversight to the PBA.