Cheatham County approves multiple budget amendments, school security transfers and capital projects
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Summary
The Cheatham County Commission on July 17 approved a package of budget amendments that move prior-year balances and reserves into the 2023-24 fiscal year, authorize school security door replacements and fund multiple capital projects; most measures passed unanimously with one commissioner absent.
Cheatham County commissioners on July 17 approved a series of budget amendments and capital transfers that reallocated prior-year balances and reserves to fund county projects and school safety upgrades.
Director of Accounts Sandrine Batts presented the Budget Committee's recommendations, which included a County General Fund package that moved $340,454.35 to cover courthouse, sheriff and public-safety projects and separate transfers from donation and reserve accounts for animal control, ambulance services and county buildings. The commission also approved a General Purpose Schools transfer totaling $1,394,257.37 to purchase and replace broken interior door locks across all Cheatham County schools, with the Board of Education supporting the move.
Other actions included amendments for the Highway/Public Works fund (including $201,898.60 for capital outlay and $45,506.96 for maintenance), a $395,991.31 transfer into General Capital Projects, and a $424,637.71 allocation for vehicle purchases from the Other Capital Projects - Vehicle fund. The Solid Waste/Sanitation fund and the Drug Control fund each received small, targeted transfers to cover prior-year commitments and operating needs.
Votes on the budget items were overwhelmingly in favor: the minutes record roll-call approvals with 11 Yes, 0 No and 1 Absent for the primary measures. Commissioners who made and seconded the motions included Diana (Pike) Lovell, David Anderson, Walter Weakley and others listed in the official roll calls.
Why it matters: the transfers move funds already committed or reserved into the new fiscal year so projects begun or planned in 2022-23 can proceed. The school door replacement in particular uses General Purpose School fund balance to address security-related capital work ahead of the new school year.
What's next: several of the line items were carried forward to FY2023-24, and departments were authorized to expend the reallocated funds under the usual procurement and reporting rules. The commission recorded each adoption as a formal resolution in the minutes.