Cheatham County approves major budget amendments, clears $1 million for highway resurfacing and buys heavy equipment

Cheatham County commissioners on April 18 approved an array of budget amendments that reallocated funds across county departments and cleared a $1,000,000 appropriation for highway maintenance and capital equipment.

Director of Accounts Sandrine Batts presented the Budget Committee recommendations. The commission approved County General amendments that move funds to cover shortages in the Sheriff’s Department overtime and equipment lines, library communications charges, ambulance/EMS staffing and insurance costs, building maintenance (water leak costs), election mailings caused by redistricting, animal control radios, and replacement turnout gear for emergency management. Each county-general amendment was approved by roll-call vote.

In the Highway fund the commission approved $66,000 for operation and equipment maintenance and $1,000,000 for Highway and Bridge Maintenance/Capital Outlay; the record shows that the $1,000,000 will support a six-mile resurfacing plan and the purchase of heavy equipment including a backhoe loader and a Peterson TL3 grapple loader. Commissioners approved Education Debt Service payments to retire recent school notes (buses and bus shop), a $400,000 transfer from the School Central Cafeteria fund to reimburse the general school fund, and a three-year capital outlay note of up to $200,000 to finance school laptops. A separate convenience-center amendment ($157,648.28) was approved from tipping fees to cover labor, contracts and fuel shortages.

All budget and capital motions recorded in the minutes carried on roll-call votes that are included in the official record. The meeting documents attach vendor quotes and invoices for equipment and service contracts cited during the vote.