Cheatham County approves $680,514 for school employee bonuses and a package of budget amendments

The Cheatham County Legislative Body on Feb. 22 approved $680,514 from the county fund balance to provide bonuses to school employees and authorized several budget amendments across county and school funds.

The school-bonuses motion, moved by Commissioner Tim Williamson and seconded by Commissioner Ed Greer, passed by roll call vote 9-1 with one abstention and one absence. The commission recorded David Anderson as abstaining and Gary Binkley as the lone No vote. The approved $680,514 allocation comes from the county fund balance and was presented to the commission by the Education committee for immediate disbursement to school employees.

The commission also authorized a slate of budget adjustments recommended by the Budget Committee. Director of Accounts Sandrine Batts outlined transfers and amendments affecting the County General Fund (covering items such as prisoner supplies, COVID-related reimbursements, insurance recoveries and Sheriff overtime), the General Capital Projects Fund (including Veterans Services Office build-out items), the Highway/Public Works Fund (reimbursement from the General Purpose School Fund for bus-garage electricity), and the General Purpose School Fund (a $70,993 transfer from school fund balance for district-wide school zone lights). Those amendments were approved by roll call votes as recorded in the meeting packet.

Commissioners approved authorizing the County Mayor Kerry McCarver to sign an agreement with Organizational Management Group…