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Board of Education asks commission to move $19.5 million in school budget amendments to regular session
Summary
Board of Education representative Mr. Haley told the commission that county revenues exceeded budget by about $4 million and asked to move a $19.5 million amendment—$17 million for capital outlay plus funds for seven buses and new curriculum—to the next regular session for approval.
Board of Education representative Mr. Haley asked the Dickson County Commission to move a package of school budget amendments totaling $19.5 million to the next regular session for formal action. Haley said the county’s audit showed revenues exceeded budget by roughly $4 million, and the school system proposes directing part of that excess into capital projects and one‑time needs.
"When that money came back at roughly $4 million, we divided that and put $2 million into the 15 already earmarked for the capital outlay and that's where the 17 came from," Haley said, explaining that the $17 million is in addition to an existing $15 million commitment to capital outlay. He said the total $19.5 million package includes $1,314,642 to buy seven new buses and $1,185,358 for curriculum, with an additional approximately $500,000 of restricted funds from a 2021 donation earmarked for instruction and Chromebooks.
Haley described the proposed capital priorities and sequencing: roofs at William James, Dickson Middle School and Dickson High School are a priority; the Shorter project remains the single largest undertaking and its roof work will be handled as part of that project; and the Charlotte project is in design with a rendering expected in about 60 days. He said the district rotates bus purchases in line with state guidelines and recent accidents and a fire accelerated some replacement needs.
Commissioner Bady asked whether roofs would be done before other renovations; Haley responded that roofs are prioritized and that architects’ conservative budgeting on past roof projects resulted in savings that were redirected to other work. After questions, the commission voted by voice to move the amendment to a regular session agenda for final consideration.
The commission did not adopt the amendment during the work session; Haley said the item will appear on a regular session agenda for a vote. The record does not include a final dollar-by-dollar adopted ordinance or vote tally beyond the motion to place the item on the regular agenda.
