Cheatham County approves budget amendments including $1.02 million for public safety

Cheatham County’s Budget Committee presented several budget amendments on Aug. 17 that the legislative body approved by roll-call votes.

Director of Accounts Sandrine Batts presented amendments for the County General Fund covering the jail, sheriff’s department, South Cheatham Library and emergency medical services; the minutes list specific amounts for those line items and state the committee vote and funding sources were “various.” The commission later approved the county general fund amendments by roll-call vote (12–0).

On capital funding, the Budget Committee recommended and the commission ultimately approved a Public Safety Projects allocation of $1,020,260 in the General Capital Projects Fund. Other capital-related line items listed in the minutes included Highway and Street Capital Projects ($302,542.33) and Highways and Streets ($138,188.89). A separate motion to approve broader General Capital Projects Fund amendments was tabled until the Road and Bridge report (recorded as Resolution 9); the Public Safety Projects item was later approved (Resolution 10).

The commission also approved Drug Control Fund spending of $71,521 for public safety projects and multiple asset-surplus motions to dispose of county equipment. Education committee business included a transfer of $429,069 from the Schools Fund Balance to balance the General School Budget and a $200,000 transfer from fund 141 to fund 143 pending USDA reimbursement; both were approved.

Votes on the major budget motions were recorded as unanimous roll-call results in the minutes unless otherwise noted (see Road and Bridge vote on the Highway Garage in separate minutes). The minutes list funding sources as “various” or specified where noted (for example, Drug Control Fund Balance).