Message from the Commish
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As summer draws to a close and the cooler evenings signal the arrival of fall, we find ourselves immersed in the excitement of football season. Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays are dedicated to cheering for our favorite teams. #GoPatriots #GoKnights #GoTitans
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While I cherish the fall festivities, I wanted to share a personal experience from this past weekend. Spending time with my son and the fellow USMMA Midshipmen was truly inspiring. Witnessing these young individuals take their oath to serve our country gave new meaning to the phrase “Thank you for your service.” Their commitment to our nation is both humbling and motivating.
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As we transition into a new fiscal year for our county, my focus remains on how to best serve our community. This involves making difficult decisions about how we allocate resources and prioritize essential projects over those that are merely desirable but not critical. It is crucial that we balance our needs with fiscal responsibility, especially when considering potential tax increases during this difficult economic period.
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This week, the Commission will review one of our largest capital projects to date with a total bond request of $280,000,000. There are still many unanswered questions about the project’s scope, size, and cost. The lack of transparency and failure to explore cost-saving options have been concerning. We are facing a total debt increase of approximately $343 million ($512 million including principal and interest). Given that our county has the second-highest debt in the state, it’s essential to find ways to save money and reduce our reliance on debt while raising revenue.
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While new facilities are undoubtedly necessary, we must acknowledge the impact of increased debt on the cost of living in our county. My priority is to focus on increasing the pay of our teachers, law enforcement, and essential county workers. No matter how impressive our facilities and programs may be, without the right people, we cannot achieve the quality of service we aspire to.
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Thank you for your understanding and support as we navigate these challenging decisions. Together, we can ensure that our community remains fiscally responsible while meeting the needs of our citizens.
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Financial Update
End of Fiscal Year 2024
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Financial Status as of (06/30/2024)
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Beginning of Fiscal Year 2025
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Financial Status (as of 7/31/2024)
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*Estimated amount including self-supporting debt (Principal only)
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Upcoming Resolutions
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There are a total of 54 resolutions coming before the County Commission on Monday, September 9th. Below are some that are of higher importance to constituents:
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- Resolution No. 9-24-1, Resolution Reaffirming the Rules, Regulations and Procedures of the Williamson County Board of Commissioners Concerning the Introduction of Resolutions to Committee by Williamson County Commissioners — Commissioner Richards
- This resolution aims to establish and clarify the necessity for proper sponsorship by a member of the County Legislative Body before a resolution can be presented to the Committee for consideration.
- Resolution No. 9-24-54 - Resolution Authorizing the Williamson County Mayor to Grant an Easement to Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation
- This is a request to provide an easement for the 5G Cell Tower to be located next to Bethesda Elementary. While the Commission did pass the new school setback of 1500 ft in February 2024, there were already a few permits that had been approved including for Bethesda. While the need for cell phone service to our rural neighbors is real, placing these towers next to schools is not the best choice for our families.
- Resolution No. 9-24-34, Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of Williamson County Appropriating Funds Not to Exceed $3,000,000.00 To Be Used Towards the Construction of a Special Operations Facility — Revenue to Come from American Rescue Plan Act Funds
- The county has received an estimated $46 million from the federal government in ARPA funds. These have gradually been utilized over the past several years for items such as emergency vehicles, upgrades to facilities and other capital needs of the county. The $3 million is what remains and will help to lower the debt we are incurring for our Special Operations Facilities. In hindsight, it may have been more economical to use more of these funds on any items which required bond debt to pay for.
- Resolution No. 9-24-38, Resolution Authorizing the Williamson County Mayor to Enter into An Amendment to the Contract with Gresham Smith and to Appropriate Up To $75,000.00 - Revenue to Come from General Fund — Commissioners Lawrence & Stresser
- The resolution proposes allocating funds to an architectural firm to evaluate potential cost savings from acquiring existing commercial properties, like the Verizon Building at 455 Duke Drive. This assessment will aid in determining the financial advantages of relocating the Juvenile Center and Alternative Learning Center to this site. The objective is to ascertain the potential savings should this option be considered.
- Resolution No. 9-24-39, Initial Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of Not to Exceed $25,600,000 Of General Obligation Bonds of Williamson County, Tennessee — Commissioner Herbert
- In accordance with state law, if a county incurs any bond debt (excluding school-related debt), a public notice of at least 20 days must be provided to county residents. If 10% of registered voters sign a petition against the bond, the bond debt must then be put to a referendum for a vote. This resolution fills that legal obligation to inform citizens of the debt that will be incurred to complete the Bethesda Rec Center & Library (totaling $13 million) and purchase of other emergency and public safety vehicles.
- Resolution No. 9-24-40, Resolution Authorizing the Issuance, Sale and Payment of Not to Exceed $40,400,000 Of General Obligation Public Improvement and School Bonds of Williamson County, Tennessee, And Providing for the Levy of Taxes for the Payment of Debt Service on the Bonds — Commissioner Herbert
- This resolution is to incur debt for the following items:
- Administrative Office Center Renovation - $800,000
- Bethesda Rec Center - $10,000,000 - There is still an additional $9 million of required funding to complete this project. Upon completion, the estimated total cost of this new complex will be approximately $45 million.
- Bethesda Library - $3,000,000 - 10,000 sq ft complex
- 40 Heart Monitors ($2,631,967), 23 Sheriff Vehicles ($1,679,460), 5 Ambulances ($2,500,000), 3 Fire Tankers ($2,100,000), Fire Ladder Truck ($2,500,000)
- School Expenses (High School) - General Security ($519,000), Physical Security ($3,572,200), Network Security ($1,083,646), Asphalt/Paving ($850,000), Roofs ($2,108,000), HVAC Replacement ($1,395,000), Maintenance ($1,292,400), and Technology ($3,753,646)
- Resolution No. 9-24-41, Resolution Authorizing the Issuance, Sale and Payment of Not to Exceed $23,220,000 Of County District School Bonds of Williamson County, Tennessee, And Providing for the Levy of Taxes for the Payment of Debt Service on the Bonds — Commissioner Herbert
- This resolution is to incur debt for the following K-8 School Expenses:
- General Security ($1,512,000), Physical Security ($5,918,000), Network Security ($275,803), Asphalt/Paving ($1,088,000), Roofs ($4,185,000), HVAC Replacement ($1,779,000), Maintenance ($2,728,300), Technology ($4,291,250), and General Purpose Capital ($1,090,000)
- Resolution No. 9-24-42, Resolution Authorizing the Issuance, Sale and Payment of Not to Exceed $280,000,000 Of General Obligation Public Improvement Bonds, In One Or More Series, Of Williamson County, Tennessee; Providing for The Levy of Taxes for the Payment of Debt Service on the Bonds; And Allocating Educational Impact Fee Collections to Defray Educational Capital Expenses — Commissioners Herbert, Guffee & Sanford
- The current breakdown for each project is as follows:
- Juvenile Services & ALC - $91,457,212 for a 652% increase in sq footage which includes an additional 24 beds and 77 employees
- Jail - $188,893,200 for a 149% increase in sq footage which includes an additional 148 beds and 61 employees
- Sheriff's Office - $31,848,466 for an 86% increase in sq footage for an additional 37 employees
If all the above resolutions are passed, our total debt obligation, including principal and interest, will be an estimated $500 million, bringing our total debt obligations to over $2 billion. This includes self-supporting hospital debt of $191 million (excluding interest). The FY24 debt review has yet to be distributed. Once available, it will provide a clearer picture of our outstanding debt obligations. The more than $20 million increase in our annual debt service will ultimately require a property tax increase. This does not include any additional increase in taxes to cover an increase in operational expenses such as salaries for teachers and law enforcement.
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- Resolution No. 9-24-43, Resolution Requesting the Williamson County Purchasing Agent to Procure Professional Engineering Services for a Vibration Monitoring Study Concerning Property Located Off of Beasley Drive — Commissioner Stresser
- The resolution proposes that an independent engineering firm carry out a seismic study to ascertain the need for structural reinforcements. This is to guarantee that new developments remain unaffected by the adverse effects of prolonged, active blasting.
- Resolution No. 9-24-53, Resolution of the Williamson County Board of Commissioners to Encourage Each Commissioner to Complete Required Annual Training and to Provide a Supplement for Completing the Training — Commissioner Webb
- This resolution proposes an additional $600 per year for commissioners who complete 8 hours of continuing education courses offered for free by CTAS (County Technical Assistance Service). With a potential property tax increase on the horizon, it is crucial to prioritize the financial well-being of our taxpayers. At this time, requesting additional funds for the commission may not align with the community’s current economic challenges and concerns.
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Get Involved
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County Commission Meeting Monday, September 9th at 7:00pm at:
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Executive Admin Building 1320 West Main Street Franklin, TN 37064
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Arrington Special Area Plan - Public Meeting
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Monday, September 16th @ 6:30pm
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Arrington Elementary School
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