Cheatham County approves budget amendments but rejects $2.96M education debt request

Cheatham County commissioners approved a series of budget amendments across the County General Fund, Highway/Public Works, General Capital Projects and school funds during their April 15 regular meeting in Ashland City.

Director of Accounts Sandrine Batts presented changes that reallocated grant proceeds and fund‑balance transfers to cover items including sheriff and jail equipment, judge payroll adjustments, coroner expenses, county buildings work and school resource officer equipment. Commissioners approved the County General Fund amendments by roll call, 10 Yes, 0 No, 2 Absent.

The Highway/Public Works fund received a transfer to repair a guardrail and state bridge program proceeds were moved to bridge construction lines; commissioners approved those transfers 10‑0 with two absences. The board also authorized $20,000 from the General Capital Projects fund balance for a set of capital improvements and approved Stabilization Grant‑funded equipment purchases for the Extended School Program.

Commissioners approved transfers from the General Purpose School fund totaling $100,462 to Education Capital Projects to buy concession equipment for four schools and cover engineering costs for the Pegram Sewer project; the School Board had previously approved the transfers.

However, a separate proposal for a capital outlay note "not to exceed $2,960,000" for restroom and concession projects was not adopted. A motion to defer consideration failed (4 Yes, 6 No, 2 Absent), and the original motion to approve the debt request later failed on roll call (6 Yes, 4 No, 2 Absent), leaving the county without approval for that financing.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 6 (County General Fund budget amendments): Approved by roll call vote 10 Yes, 0 No, 2 Absent. - Resolution 7 (Highway/Public Works budget amendments): Approved by roll call vote 10 Yes, 0 No, 2 Absent. - Resolution 8 (General Capital Projects transfer $20,000): Approved by roll call vote 10 Yes, 0 No, 2 Absent. - Resolution 9 (Extended School Program equipment via Stabilization Grant): Approved by roll call vote 10 Yes, 0 No, 2 Absent. - Resolution 10 (Transfers from General Purpose School to Education Capital Projects totaling $100,462): Approved by roll call vote 10 Yes, 0 No, 2 Absent. - Capital outlay note for restroom/concession project (not numbered as a final resolution in the minutes): Motion to defer failed 4 Yes, 6 No, 2 Absent; original motion to approve failed 6 Yes, 4 No, 2 Absent.

Why it matters

The approved amendments move grant reimbursements and fund‑balance resources to departments with projected shortfalls and to capital lines for maintenance and equipment needs. The failure to approve the $2.96 million capital outlay note means the county must either find alternate funding, scale back the proposed projects or return with a revised financing proposal before work proceeds.

What’s next

Budget Committee members announced a budget workshop scheduled for June 10, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. Commissioners did not set another date to revisit the restroom/concession financing during the April 15 meeting.