Mary.Smith@WilliamsonCounty-TN.gov * (615)640-1273 * www.votemarysmith.com

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FROM THE DESK OF THE COMMISH

While there was no Commission meeting this past month, there have been several committee meetings scheduled to review the budgets for this upcoming fiscal year.  For the most part, budgets have kept their increases, based on recommendation from the Budget Committee, to allow for a 7% salary increase to ALL Part-Time and Full-Time County employees (5% at the beginning of the year and an additional 2% in January 2024). 

The budget is set to be confirmed on June 27th by the County Commission.  This is my first time through this process and there is a lot of information that is being presented.  While I am still learning and asking many questions, it is evident that at some point we will need to find ways to increase the revenue to offset the growing budgets of all our departments.  Currently, our main sources of revenue are property tax and sales tax, however, there are other tools in the county’s revenue toolbox which may need to be reviewed for revenue increasing possibilities.

I’ve also spent quite a bit of time with various department heads learning about how each area of the county operates.  These past few weeks, I have toured our Public Safety Headquarters and Emergency Operations Center (EOC), visited with the head of our Planning Department (Mike Matteson) and Director of Community Development (Joe Horne).  Our county is a VERY large operation and there are some dedicated, loyal and hard-working people behind the scenes.  It’s been an honor to get to know them and hear first-hand the passion they have for what they do.

We live in a very prosperous county, and we are blessed to experience a notably excellent quality of life.  As we continue to grow, it is important that we consider how we maintain our quality of life against some of the more negative impacts of growth (traffic, taxes, crime, etc.).  These are not easy challenges to solve but remaining involved with your community, voting, and sharing ideas and information, is a great way to help protect and preserve the characteristics of the county we all call home.

Recent article highlighting Franklin, TN as why it is one of the best suburbs in US.

Happy Spring Everyone!

Mary

 

Click here for more updates from around the county

STATE OF THE COUNTY

TOTAL CURRENT DEBT

$1,099,195,000*
$202,240,000 is self-supporting

COUNTY BUDGET

Original - $723,533,814
Current - $759,745,544
(as of 01/31/23)

COUNTY EXPENSES

$354,627,660 (45.95% of Budget)
(as of 01/31/23)

COUNTY REVENUE

$421,381,886 (60.87% of Budget)
(as of 01/31/22)

Click here for more information about the Financial Status of the County

 

NOTABLE ITEMS

State Legislative Session Outcome

·        Bills Sent to Governor

·        Bills Passed 1st Session

·        Bills Failed 1st Session

·        Bills Active for 2024

School Safety

·        Each school in Williamson County has been approved to have a School Resource Officer (SRO).  The total annual cost of an SRO comes out to be approximately $225,000.  This includes salary, benefits, vehicle, and equipment.  Total cost to the county is approximately $11,250,000.  There has recently been a grant program approved by Gov. Lee to award $75,000/per public school to be utilized for staffing of an SRO or construction improvements to improve and/or add safety and security elements to the school.

Election Integrity

·        There will be a resolution coming in May regarding the purchase of voting machines.  While I do understand the need for some technology to assist with speed and efficiency, I do not believe the current vendors we are using meet the standards for optimal transparency and accountability.

Other Items

·        New funding from state TISA v BEP to be announced in May (still waiting for this information.)  Currently WCS is requesting an increase of $50,000,000 over last year’s budget mostly due to additional employees and pay increases.

·        Septic Report regarding efficiencies in approving permits, due this month.  The goal is to ensure we are streamlining the review process and look for ways to shorten the time frame from submittal to approval.

·        Hospital - May 17th Ribbon Cutting, Post-Partum Open End of May.

 

Click here to read the entire Tennessee Code Annotated regarding Election Machines

RESOLUTION OUTCOME

Resolutions for May Meeting – Coming Soon

Click HERE to view the latest County Commission meeting

 

COUNTY/DISTRICT 5 EVENTS

Monday, May 8, 2023 @ 7:00pm
1320 West Main
Franklin, TN

Click here for more District 5 and County Events

 

CHARITY SPOTLIGHT


Angel Heart Farm

Established in 2001, Angel Heart Farm is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that uses equine assisted therapy for children facing chronic or life-threatening illness and their families in conjunction with their medical treatments. The only program of its kind in Middle Tennessee, Angel Heart Farm serves children who are facing a host of illnesses including all forms of cancer, brain tumors, heart, liver issues, blood disorders, cystic fibrosis and several other life-threatening illnesses. Families from all over the Southeast including Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio have come to AHF for the unique therapy we provide.

Click here to nominate a charitable organization from District 5 or Williamson County

WE’RE HIRING

Sheriff’s Office

Williamson County Schools

Parks & Recreation

To view all County Job Listings, click here

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

- Galatians 6:9 

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