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Smith For Fifth
May 2025 Update
"Budgets, Debt, Property Appraisals & Lawfare"
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Message from the Commish...
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May tends to be a busy time for many of us—with community events, Mother’s Day, and school graduations filling up our calendars. Despite the rain, this past weekend was full of opportunities to connect with neighbors and celebrate all that’s happening in our area. From Trinity Methodist Church’s Annual Pancake Breakfast to the Historic Buttercup Festival and College Grove Athletics' Day in the Park, it was a wonderful chance to engage with the community and enjoy some local traditions.
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As we approach Mother’s Day weekend, I find myself reflecting on one of life’s greatest blessings—my children and my grandchild. Being a mother (and now a proud “Marmy”) brings its share of challenges, but the joy and fulfillment it offers are immeasurable. I’m grateful to come from a long line of strong, selfless women who modeled unconditional love and generosity. To all the mothers and role models out there, thank you—and Happy Mother’s Day!
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Now, turning to county business—this has been another active month on the Budget Committee. We’ve completed the initial department-by-department review and are now focused on addressing the approximately $32 million funding gap between projected expenses and revenues. You’ll find further details on the budget, debt outlook, and property tax considerations below.
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As always, please reach out to me if I can ever be of assistance or if you want to learn more about our county and ways to get involved.
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NOTE: This is only a concept plan and is subject to change based on final funding approvals and design.
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County Financial Snapshot
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The Facts Behind Our Educational Funding
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State Funding & Fiscal Capacity
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As I mentioned in last month's newsletter, one of our biggest challenges in funding our schools and paying a livable wage to our teachers is something known as "fiscal capacity." Because Williamson County is affluent, the state gives us less per-student funding than lower-income counties. However, this formula doesn’t account for our higher cost of living, making it harder to pay teachers competitive wages.
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In comparison to Rutherford, Williamson County received only 27% of their school funding for the 2024-25 school year from the state, while Rutherford received closer to 47%. This allows Rutherford to provide a higher salary to their teaching staff (currently 12th in the state) compared to Wiliamson County teaching staff (currently 27th in the state), all while Williamson County has one of the highest costs of living.
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What We Are Doing?
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This past week, I joined three members of our School Board — Tony Bostic (District 1), Dr. Margie Johnson (District 5), and Donna Clements (District 8) — along with fellow District 8 County Commissioners Barb Sturgeon and Drew Torres, in filing a legal complaint against the State Department of Education. Our goal is to address the ongoing inequities in school funding and to restore the funding model back to what it was prior the Tennessee Small School Sys. v. McWherter Ruling by the Tennessee State Supreme Court. If successful, our county would receive additional funding from the state to address the difference the higher cost of living in our county for our educational employees.
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Investing in our Law Enforcement
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Recruiting and retaining highly qualified law enforcement officers continues to be a challenge for Williamson County. On May 6th, Sheriff Jeff Hughes, along with our Human Resources staff, presented a comprehensive wage study to the Budget Committee. The study outlined what it would take to bring our deputies' salaries to the 75th, 85th, and 95th percentiles compared to agencies across the state.
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After hearing the presentation, I made a motion to increase the Sheriff’s budget by $520,000. This funding would allow for a mid-year raise to bring our deputies' pay to the 75th percentile—making us more competitive in hiring and keeping the best talent. Unfortunately, the motion failed due to a lack of a second from other committee members.
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I remain committed to addressing this issue and believe it will come up again during further budget reviews. I am hopeful we will gain the support needed to ensure our law enforcement officers are compensated fairly for the critical work they do to keep our community safe.
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Budget, Debt and Funding Gap Update
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Budget Challenges: Addressing a $32 Million Funding Gap
The preliminary budget for 2025-26 reveals a $32 million shortfall between projected expenses and revenue, with several key areas driving costs:
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$15 million for raises and adjustments to staff salaries (county and schools)
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$5 million to strengthen ambulance services
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$14 million in increased debt payments (rising from $93 million last year to $107 million in 2025)
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Debt remains Williamson County’s biggest financial hurdle, surpassing even salary and population growth pressures.
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Net Direct Debt: $939.8 million (with $646.6 million tied to schools)
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Total Direct Debt: $1.12 billion
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Outstanding Bonds: $263 million (Jail/Juvenile Center/Bethesda Park)
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Debt Service Costs: Up from $93 million (2024) to $107 million (2025)
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11% of the county budget now goes toward debt payments, limiting resources available for roads, public safety, and core services.
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Exploring Revenue Alternatives Beyond Property Taxes
To ease the burden on homeowners, the county is evaluating additional revenue sources:
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Adequate Facilities Tax on Commercial Development A study (expected in September) will determine revenue potential, with early estimates ranging from $4 million to $6 million annually.
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Wheel Tax Review Williamson County’s current rate is $25.75, among the lowest in the state. Raising it could generate $4–6 million per year.
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Rutherford County: $52.50
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Davidson County: $55.00 Any increase would require two County Commission votes with a two-thirds majority or approval via public referendum.
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Health Insurance Review A reassessment of health insurance plans could yield significant savings while maintaining high-quality employee coverage.
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By exploring these options, Williamson County aims to balance fiscal responsibility with sustainable growth while maintaining essential services.
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Property Tax Appraisal Update
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- In 2024, the total assessed value of property in Williamson County = $19.3 Billion with a Tax Rate of $1.88 which was a total of $362,840,000 in tax collection.
- In 2025, the total assessed value of property in Williamson County = $29.6 Billion with an Indicated Certified Tax Rate of $1.21 to keep $362,840,000 in tax collection.
What this means to you...
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If your property assesses at greater than 52%, which most residential properties will, you will see an automatic increase in your property taxes before any additional rate increase.
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52% Avg Increase in Assessed Property Values
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62% for Residential, 32% for Commercial,
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We have received the updated 10 year plan from TDOT. As you can see from the report, there are several projects impacting Williamson County listed including:
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- Maury/Williamson State Route 6 Widening ($131.8M + $142.8M, 2033)
- Nashville Interstate 65 Corridor Priority Investment ($48M, 2027)
- Williamson State Route-397, Mack C. Hatcher Memorial
Parkway (SR-397) Widening (Southeast Quadrant) ($100M, 2032)
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Proclamations
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Mental Health Awareness Month: Mayor Rogers Anderson will proclaim May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month, emphasizing accessible mental health care.
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Wrestling Achievements: Commissioner Matt Williams will honor the 2025 TNAAU Wrestling Finalists and Champions, as well as Williamson County Schools’ wrestling finalists and champions.
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Grassland Middle School Cheerleaders: Commissioner Meghan Guffee will recognize the Grassland Middle School Cheerleaders for their National Championship win.
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Elections and Appointments
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Hospital Board of Trustees: Nominations for three-year terms (expiring 5/28) include:
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Matt Williams (County Commissioner)
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Jim Cross (At-Large Member)
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Meghan Guffee (County Commissioner)
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Key Resolutions and Appropriations
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Highway Department: $50,000 for personnel needs during severe weather (Resolution 5-25-4).
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Opioid Abatement: Funding for the Refuge Center for Counseling (Resolution 5-25-10) and an agreement with Middle Tennessee State University for data tracking (Resolution 5-25-30).
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$10,119,750 inter-category adjustment for coach reclassification (Resolution 5-25-11).
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Intent to fund $13,815,425 for school security technology (Resolution 5-25-12).
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Intent to fund $12,153,000 for asphalt, roofs, and HVAC needs (Resolution 5-25-13).
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Up to $6,600,000 for Hillsboro K-8 renovation (Resolution 5-25-14).
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Up to $7,000,000 for Grassland Middle School renovation (Resolution 5-25-15).
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$4,000,000 for letter grade bonus (Resolution 5-25-16).
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$2,080,927.52 for cafeteria fund expenses (Resolution 5-25-17).
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Circuit Court Clerk ($43,755), Library ($640), Animal Center ($26,000 for a vehicle, $2,053 for medical supplies), Parks and Recreation ($150,000 and $178,118.07), Public Safety ($36,000), County Clerk ($50,000), and Clerk & Master ($16,309).
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Incentive program for volunteer firefighters and emergency responders (Resolution 5-25-26).
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Grant application for a Lenco Bearcat tactical vehicle (Resolution 5-25-34).
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K-9 transfers and donations for the Sheriff’s Office (Resolutions 5-25-35, 5-25-36, 5-25-39).
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Request to Post Committee Agendas 48 hours in advance of meetings (Resolution 5-25-1)
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Adoption of a Generative AI policy (Resolution 5-25-28).
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Three-year reappraisal cycle approval (Resolution 5-25-31).
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Interlocal agreement with Fairview for annexation (Resolution 5-25-32).
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Hotel-Motel Tax rate setting for 2025-26 (Resolution 5-25-44).
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Prioritization for I-65 widening from I-840 to Bear Creek Pike (Resolution 5-25-45).
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All of the following meetings will be held at:
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County Commission Meeting - May 12th @ 6:00PM - Main Auditorium
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Budget Meeting - 2nd Review - May 13th @ 4:30PM - Executive Conference Room
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Purchasing & Insurance - May 15th @ 4:30PM - Executive Conference Room
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Tax Study Committee - May 20th @ 5:30PM - Executive Conference Room
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Property Committee - May 28th @ 5:30PM - Executive Conference Room
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Budget Committee - June 2nd @ 4:30PM - Executive Conference Room
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Public Hearing / Budget Committee - 2025-26 Proposed County Budget - June 3rd @5:30PM - Auditorium
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County Commission Meeting - June 9th @ 6:00PM - Main Auditorium
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If you like what you see, please be sure to share with your friends. The more we educate ourselves, the more we can become active participates in our amazing community. You can subscribe here. Also, if you are interested in supporting my efforts to preserve and protect Conservative values in Williamson County, please consider making a donation.
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