Cheatham County approves multiple budget amendments, including $165,000 transfer for school vans

Cheatham County commissioners approved a package of budget amendments affecting county general, highway, solid waste and school funds during their Feb. 28, 2022 meeting.

Director of Accounts Sandrine Batts presented the recommended amendments. The Legislative Body approved transfers to upgrade ambulance communication cradle points and to buy three IV pumps for EMS, a small veterans-services office equipment purchase, reimbursements to cover bus-garage electricity, transfers to support South Cheatham Library expenditures, and administrative transfers to cover postal charges and payroll adjustments. The board recorded the changes as budget amendments during roll-call votes that passed unanimously (11–0, 1 absent).

Most notably, commissioners moved $165,000 from the General Purpose School fund balance into the Education Capital Projects fund to purchase four district vans; the Education Committee and Board of Education votes were referenced as part of the approval process and the resolution indicates the transfer is contingent on required committee approvals. The motion was presented by Diana Pike Lovell and seconded by Tim Williamson.

The package also included routine surplus authorizations for EMS equipment to be traded under the Stryker ambulance-equipment agreement and smaller highway and solid-waste fund adjustments. The minutes show the votes were recorded and the budget changes become part of the county’s fiscal-year 2021–22 accounting records. No additional discussion of alternative funding sources or long-term operating impacts for the school vans was recorded in the minutes.

Commissioners adjourned after completing the consent and resolution items.