Rules Committee approves late-filed amendment to FY2027 budget ordinance

The Nashville Metropolitan Council Rules Committee on June 16 agreed to consider a late-filed amendment to BO2026-1377, the budget ordinance for fiscal year 2027, after Finance alerted staff to a reserve-fund error that shifted numbers across accounts.

Councilmember Evan Segal, who filed the amendment, told the committee the change was submitted late so the assembly could debate the amendment’s merits rather than a previously detected numerical error. "There was a timely filed amendment where the finance department had approved those numbers. However, they then came back yesterday morning and said that they caught an error in one of the reserve fund amounts," Segal said. He added the late filing was intended to ensure a balanced amendment was before the body.

A finance director in the room confirmed the late amendment’s purpose was to ensure the substitute balanced before committee consideration. After a brief period for questions, the committee moved and voted on the late-filed amendment. The committee vote was recorded as five in favor, zero against and two not voting.

Why it matters: the amendment adjusts the substitute budget so the committee can evaluate the policy choices rather than procedural or numeric errors. Because BO2026-1377 is the city’s primary annual fiscal ordinance, changes advanced by the Rules Committee will be considered as the ordinance moves toward final council action.

Next steps: The committee-approved amendment will be carried forward for consideration by the full council as part of the FY2027 budget ordinance process. No additional substantive debate on the amendment occurred in committee beyond the explanation and the vote.