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Cheatham County approves broad budget amendments and highway resurfacing plan
Summary
The legislative body approved multiple budget amendments across county funds — including a $1 million highway resurfacing allocation, an EMS increase, school debt payoffs totaling more than $2.3 million, and a $200,000 capital outlay note for school laptops.
Cheatham County commissioners on April 18 approved several budget amendments and capital actions that adjust spending across county and school funds.
Director of Accounts Sandrine Batts presented a lengthy Budget Committee package that commissioners approved by roll-call votes. In the county general fund, the body moved line-item authority for courts, sheriff overtime and equipment, library communications, ambulance/EMS staffing, county building repairs related to a water leak, elections mailings tied to redistricting, animal-control radios, emergency management turnout gear, building-and-codes contract lines, jail training and probation services. A $70,000 transfer from fund balance was also authorized to cover higher fuel costs across departments.
On highway spending, commissioners approved transferring $1,000,000 from the highway fund balance to Highway and Bridge capital outlay to support a six-mile resurfacing plan and to buy heavy equipment including a Thompson Cat backhoe (quote $124,263) and a Peterson TL3 grapple/chipper (quote $180,087). The highway operational amendment ($66,000) passed by roll call.
School-related finance actions included paying off recent school notes from the Education Debt Service fund for seven buses ($925,218) and the bus-shop loan ($1,458,515), both recorded as fund-balance payoffs. The Board of Education and the commission approved a $400,000 transfer from the School Central Cafeteria Fund to the General Purpose School fund to cover free-lunch shortfalls. Commissioners also authorized a three-year capital outlay note not to exceed $200,000 to finance school laptops; terms in the resolution set a maximum 3.5% interest rate and a three-year maturity.
The body approved convenience-center and solid-waste adjustments (tipping-fee increases moved to cover labor and contracted services) and surplus-asset resolutions for highway facilities and seized items. Commissioners voted unanimously on the budget package and related capital actions.
