Newsletter

Friday Recap for June 13, 2025

Bill Petty

14 Jun 2025 — 23 min read

My Comment

This has been a busy week for the county. We had a commission meeting on Monday and budget committee meeting on Thursday. Budgeting is very complicated and hard to follow. The bottom line is that taxes are going to go up. The county is proposing a tax rate $1.29. Multiply your current assessed value by $1.29 and divide by 100 and that is your new tax rate. If you live in Franklin your county tax will be $1.26 because Franklin has its own solid waste department. Your Franklin tax will be $.32.

Here is an example of county tax for a million dollar home:

Appraised Value = $1,000,000 Assessed Value = $250,000 times $1.29 divided by 100= $3,225

If you live in Franklin the tax for a million dollar home:

Appraised Value = $1,000,000 Assessed Value $250,000 times $1.58 divided by 100= $3950

Both the County and The City of Franklin are finalizing budgets and tax rates and you can read the summaries and watch the videos below.

A couple of videos I watched this past week that I think you might be interested in That Sugar Film lays out the issue will sugar in a powerful way, and, more importantly, The agenda talks about whats coming world wide

This past week the following committees/commissions met:

Monday June 9th

Williamson County Commission

Tuesday June 10th

Franklin Beer Board
BOMA Work Session
BOMA Board Meeting

Thursday June 12th

Franklin Budget and Finance Committee
Williamson County Budget Committee
Williamson County School Board Work Session

The AI program I use is pretty accurate, but it does make mistakes from time to time and I don't always catch them. I provide agendas and videos/audios when I have them available and recommend that you watch the video and follow along with the summary to get the most accurate report.

One of the limitations of AI is that if a participant's name is not called out, then they are listed as participant 1, 2, etc. A limitation with audio, as opposed to video, is that one cannot always identify a person by voice alone. As imperfect as these AI summaries are, they still give a pretty good account of a meeting.

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Williamson County School District

Thursday June 12th

School Board Work Session Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

[ ] Board Members - Send availability emails for special meeting dates Send email to Mr. Chair and Jason about availability for potential special meeting dates: June 20th and June 23rd through 27th for budget amendment discussion
[ ] Rachel Farmer - Submit budget information to state by June 30th Submit the verified teacher bonus information back to the state by June 30th so the state can process payments
[ ] Rachel Farmer - Cut off purchase orders tomorrow Cut off 100% of purchase orders being issued tomorrow (except for emergencies) as part of year-end budget process
[ ] Rachel Farmer - Finalize teacher bonus list by June 15th Complete the list of teachers eligible for the $2,000 state bonus, sorting out which teachers qualify under the law definition, and submit to the state by June 15th
[ ] Dana Ausbrooks - Modify wireless communications policy language Change policy language from 'turned off and stored' to 'silenced and not used during the school day' for K-8 and 9-12, and change 'instructional time' to 'school day' in penalties section for Monday's board meeting
[ ] Dana Ausbrooks - Add middle school language to student wellness policy Add language to student wellness policy 6.411 specifying that middle school students cannot use electronic devices during time meant for physical activity or socialization for Monday's board meeting
[ ] Dana Ausbrooks - Add clarifying sentence to testing policy 4.601 Add sentence at the end of the reteaching and reassessment paragraph stating 'Methods should be chosen by the teacher or teaching team and may not necessarily lead to grade changes' for Monday's board meeting
[ ] Rachel Farmer - Prepare capital budget resolution form Prepare the resolution form for the annual capital budget ($14,135,800) that the board has already approved, so it can be presented to the full county commission in July

Overview

County Budget Committee voted 4-1 to reduce school district's health insurance costs by $2.65 million, requiring board budget amendment before June 30th
Superintendent evaluation completed with overall average of 3.32 - board will vote to accept results Monday, June 16th
Board reached consensus on wireless communications policy for first and final reading Monday - devices silenced and not used during school day, with planned policy review in August/September
Construction projects on track: Brentwood Middle 95% complete, Innovation Hub scheduled completion April 26, 2026

County budget committee decisions impact

County Budget Committee held special meeting June 12th from 4:30 PM to 6:05 PM to address budget gaps
Committee voted 4-1 to reduce school health insurance allocation by $2.65 million (equivalent to 1 penny tax reduction)
Committee approved using $90 million impact fee fund for bond debt service, reducing tax rate by 2 pennies
Committee changed property tax revenue projection from 92% to 94% of actual receipts, reducing gap by 2 pennies
Final proposed tax rate: $1.30 total (75 cents for schools, 27 cents county general, 15 cents general debt, 9 cents rural debt, 3 cents solid waste)
Board must decide whether to amend budget before County Commission's final vote June 20th or wait for special meeting between June 23rd-27th

School district budget amendments

Summer Learning camps allocation: $4.4 million (state-funded, district spent $2 million last year)
Summer transportation allocation: $798,171
Fine Arts donations: Gibson Gadars $49,410, Dunaway family $1,000
TCAT teacher stipend funding: $5,737
USDA commodities adjustment: $570,286
Three intra-category transfer votes scheduled for Monday covering general fund, cafeteria, and extended school care

Superintendent evaluation results

Performance goals (80% weight): 3.2 average (3.00, 3.63, 2.96 on individual goals)
State-required characteristics (20% weight): 3.79 average (student achievement 4.17, board relations 3.71, community relations 3.92, staff relationships 3.54, facilities/finance 3.63)
Overall weighted average: 3.32
Superintendent highlighted focus areas for next year: instruction (growing students with unique learning needs), safety (building student relationships), and proactive stakeholder engagement
Superintendent chose not to request contract extension from 3 to 4 years this year, current contract runs through 2028

Strategic planning session scheduling

July 30th date didn't receive sufficient board availability responses
Board Chair proposed August 14th afternoon strategic session before regular work session
Session would cover strategic plan discussions, superintendent goal-setting for earlier completion than November timeline, and potential board goals

Wireless communications policy development

Policy required by state law effective July 1, 2025
Board consensus reached for first and final reading Monday with modifications:
K-12 students may possess devices but not use during school day (changed from "turned off and stored" to "silenced and not used")
High school students (grades 9-12) may use devices during lunch period
Consequences changed from "instructional time" to "school day" duration
Board committed to policy review in August/September after technology committee input
Secondary principals support no phone use during academic periods and study halls, expressed concerns about lunch period enforcement logistics

Assessment and retesting policy revisions

Policy 4.601 pulled from consent for discussion about reteaching and reassessment requirements
Board members expressed concerns about mandatory retesting potentially reducing student motivation and creating grade inflation
Staff clarified policy reflects current practice of Professional Learning Communities asking: what students need to learn, how to know if they learned it, what to do when they don't learn, what to do when they master quickly
Compromise reached to add clarifying sentence: "Methods should be chosen by the teacher or teaching team and may not necessarily lead to grade changes"
Some board members still prefer removing reassessment paragraph entirely - amendment possible Monday

Student wellness policy updates

Policy 6.411 requires addition of middle school language prohibiting electronic device use during physical activity and socialization time
Elementary restrictions remain unchanged per state law requirements
High school language to be updated based on wireless communications policy decisions

Construction project updates

Brentwood Middle School flooring 95% complete, ceiling grid finished, final painting begun, life safety testing scheduled end of June
Transportation building complete, only punch list items remaining
Innovation Hub: second floor slab pouring June 13th, scheduled completion April 26, 2026, fully state-funded
FOB security project on track for June completion, phase two starts July
Alternative Learning Center: County approved funding for new facility at 300 Beasley, will include safety team offices, construction timeline not yet determined

Differentiated pay plan approval

Current differentiated pay total: $1.225 million
Includes signing bonuses for hard-to-fill positions, special education supplements
New state law allows performance-based compensation but district not implementing currently
State teacher bonus: $2,000 gross for teachers working 120+ days, payments scheduled end of August, state funding includes FICA and retirement costs

Next Week

Monday June 16th

School Board Work Session meets at 6:00 PM in the Professional Development Center unless otherwise noted. The PD Center building is located at 1761 West Main Street, Franklin. Agenda Video starts at 6:00 pm live streamed or anytime later.

Williamson County Commission

Williamson County Commission committees

Special Note: Since Williamson County does not record any meetings other than the commission, budget committee and planning commission meetings, I am recording all the meetings that I attend on my iPhone. We are in the process of reviewing a technology upgrade that will allow the county to record more meetings as well as include agendas, minutes and packets on our website. I will keep you up to date when progress is made.

Monday June 9th

County Commission Agenda/Packet Late File Video How Commissioners voted

AI Summary

Action Items

[ ] Participant 1 - Add District 3 commissioner appointment to July 14th meeting agenda Add the matter of appointing a replacement for the vacant District 3 county commissioner position to the July 14th meeting agenda, as requested by Commissioner Mason who has spoken to four interested candidates and wants to give residents enough time to come forward

Overview

Commissioners objected to hearing late-filed Resolution 40 regarding stop-loss insurance renewal, forcing Mayor Anderson to schedule a special meeting for June 20th at 8:00 AM to avoid a $2.5-3 million cost increase if coverage lapses July 1st
County approved $46,595.83 in emergency management reimbursements from Tennessee Emergency Management Agency for assistance to North Carolina and Florida
School district received approval for $1.37 million in budget amendments covering textbooks ($900,000), insurance claims ($700,000), special education ($150,000), and other expenses
Commissioners authorized new $12.50 court cost fee for all state misdemeanors and felonies to fund public safety initiatives
County approved $912,599 federal grant for evidence-based jail programming with 36% success rate, requiring no matching funds

Late filed insurance resolution controversy

Mayor Anderson appealed to commissioners to reconsider objections to late-filed Resolution 6-25-40 for stop-loss insurance renewal
Two commissioners objected to hearing the resolution, citing lack of transparency in the $90 million insurance RFP process
Commissioner Hayes requested a commission-wide meeting to review all insurance bids and questioned why the RFP process didn't start sooner
Mayor Anderson warned that delaying beyond June 30th would force purchasing 6-month coverage at $2.5-3 million higher cost versus annual contract
Special meeting scheduled for June 20th at 8:00 AM to address the stop-loss insurance before July 1st deadline

County financial performance report

April privilege tax collections totaled $1.08 million, slightly below last year's $1.1 million but within expected range
Education impact fee collections exceeded $1.7 million for the month
Conference center generated $69,103 profit
General fund revenues at 88.9% of estimated projections year-to-date, on target to meet fiscal year goals
County introduced two accounting interns: Lauren Mitchell (UT senior) and Riley Coleman (Lipscomb senior)

Economic development and workforce initiatives

TruGreen relocated headquarters to Franklin, creating 135 new positions with $150,000 average salary
County hosted Manufacturing Day connecting students with local manufacturers, resulting in internship at Horn USA
Economic development team conducting internship survey with all Williamson County companies to connect with Tennessee universities
TruGreen engaged with county and city leadership for community investment opportunities beyond their capital investment

School district budget amendments and overages

Commissioners approved $900,000 for additional textbook expenses beyond original budget projections
School district received $700,000 for insurance claims covering workers compensation ($200,000), building contents ($200,000), and liability ($300,000)
Special education budget increased by $150,000 for translation services and mileage reimbursement for IEP meetings
School facilities budget amended by $20,000 for increased church usage and supervision costs
Property tax collections exceeded budget, generating $300,000 additional revenue for trustee commission

Emergency management reimbursements

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency reimbursing $46,595.83 for overtime, supplies, and vehicle maintenance
Reimbursement covers emergency management assistance provided to North Carolina and Florida
Sheriff's office detention budget increased by $500,000 for medical and dental services for inmates

Court cost fee authorization

Commissioners authorized $12.50 court cost fee for all state misdemeanors and felonies except non-moving traffic offenses
Fee mirrors existing Public Defenders Fund assessment and will replace current economic crime fund collections
General Stacy Edmondson explained the fee applies to more cases than current economic crime fund, generating additional public safety funding
Resolution required 2/3 majority vote and passed 21 yes, 1 abstain

Solid waste backup service agreements

County approved interlocal agreements with City of Murfreesboro, City of Franklin, and Rutherford County for emergency solid waste services
Agreements provide mutual aid during equipment failures or disasters, requiring mayoral approval to activate
Services limited to residential waste only, not commercial operations
Mac explained agreements based on complementary equipment capabilities between jurisdictions

Fire service district restructuring

Commissioners created new fire service district (District 20) by restructuring three existing districts
Approved interlocal agreements with Town of Nolensville and City of Fairview for firefighting services at $250 per call
Fairview agreement estimated at $50,000 annually for areas where city can provide faster response than volunteer rescue squad
Agreements address homeowner insurance requirements for properties within 5 miles of fire stations

Jail evidence-based programming grant

Federal grant of $912,599 approved for evidence-based programming with 36% recidivism reduction success rate
Grant covers salary for program manager ($85,501 year one, $94,258 year two) and Educare professional fees ($291,626 year one)
Program requires $75,000 in jail classroom renovations for male and female facilities
Position conditional on grant funding availability, with deputy returning to regular duties if grant ends

County seal litigation withdrawal

Commissioners voted to withdraw authorization for county mayor to modify official county seal
Jeff Moseley explained Court of Appeals dismissed case as moot after state legislature changed memorial definition to include county seals
Five years of litigation rendered ineffective by legislative changes requiring new petition process
Resolution passed 22 yes, 0 no to formally withdraw the authorization

Thursday June 12

Budget Committee Packet Video Proposed Amendment for budget and tax rate

AI Summary

Overview

County commissioners approved $900,756,130 total budget for fiscal year 2026 with final tax rate of $1.29 per $100 assessed value
Achieved 5 cents reduction from original $1.34 proposed rate through insurance savings ($500 per employee reduction), education impact fee debt reallocation ($5.6 million), and moving to 94% tax collection rate
Insurance benefits reduced from $13,000 to $12,500 per employee, saving $2.7 million in schools and $658,000 in county operations
Sheriff's department compensation increase to 75th percentile remains unfunded, requiring additional $1.26 million (half penny tax increase)

Budget transfers approval

Animal center received $4,000 transfer from communications to cover operating lease payments ($1,000), contracting services ($2,500), and instructional supplies
Library got $2,000 moved from communications to utilities for end-of-year shortage
Additional transfers included $1,000 from staff development to operating lease payments and $500 from supplies to materials
Finance department transferred $125 from staff development to communications
All transfers passed 5-0

Insurance benefits cost reduction

Commissioners approved reducing employee insurance benefits from $13,000 to $12,500 per employee
Participant 2 noted pharmacy rebate savings typically realize 6-9 months after implementation, with stop-loss contract changes likely effective January 1st
Participant 3 confirmed Cigna pricing showed $4.6 million potential annual savings based on same claims volume
County savings: $658,000 (general fund $425,000, solid waste $22,000, highway $52,000)
School system savings: $2.7 million (equivalent to 1 penny tax reduction)

Education impact fee debt reallocation

Phoebe identified $5.6 million available from education impact fees collected since 2017 to pay down bond debt
2018 bond: $2 million recapture from $35.8 million in growth-related projects (Central East, Sunset Middle Auditorium, Grassland Auditorium)
2019 bond: $3 million additional recapture available
Debt reallocation reduced rural debt service from 11 cents to 9 cents (2 penny reduction)
General debt service remained at 15 cents with $500,000 additional relief

Tax collection rate adjustment

Commissioners voted 4-1 to increase collection rate assumption from 92% to 94%
Current actual collection rate running 95-96%, providing safety margin
Participant 1 opposed the change, citing concerns about creating one-time money and potential budget pressure next year
Change enabled 1 penny reduction each in county general (28 cents to 27 cents) and school rates (76 cents to 75 cents)

Sheriff's department compensation discussion

Sheriff requested funding to move deputies to 75th percentile compensation, requiring $1.26 million (half penny tax increase)
Participant 7 noted $1.1 million radio replacement could be delayed 1 year to help fund raises, extending radio life from 5 years to 6 years
Participant 8 supported sheriff funding, citing $30,000 cost per deputy turnover and 1 year training period
Participant 1 expressed concern about creating divide between sheriff's department and other county employees
No funding approved in final budget

Final tax rates adoption

Final tax rates approved 4-1: County General $0.27, General Debt Service $0.15, Rural Debt Service $0.09, Schools $0.75, Solid Waste $0.03
Combined rate: $1.29 per $100 assessed value (down from $1.34 proposed)
Property casualty insurance premiums reduced from 5% to 3% increase, saving $42,000 general fund
Sales tax revenue down $1.6 million from projections, offset by $1.2 million increase in state TISA funding
Budget requires $14 million from fund balance to balance

Williamson County Planning Commission Agenda/Packet Video

AI Summary

Overview

Commission approved 6 development projects including Susan Hollow (4 lots), Vista Creek revision (increased from 16 to 18 lots), Village at Triune West (97 single family + 133 multifamily lots), Highland Hill Phase 6 (38 lots), King's Chapel Section 15 (22 lots), and Telefaro (27 lots)
Owen Valley treatment facility site plan was deferred to July 2025 meeting due to well location verification questions—residents identified private wells within 500ft of the treatment system that weren't documented in the application
Highland Park Hill amenity center was deferred to July 2025 meeting per applicant request
Public raised concerns about low water pressure (25 psi vs normal 50-60 psi) for Owen Valley's 72 planned homes

Susan Hollow subdivision preliminary plat

Commission approved preliminary plat for 4 lots on 31.13 acres off Pewitt Road
Kelsey McGee from T Square Engineering represented the project
Lots accessed by access easement with 200ft separation between building envelopes
Water provided by individual wells, wastewater handled by individual septic systems
Lots 1-2 comply with fire apparatus access standards, lots 3-4 will have fire sprinkler systems

Owen Valley treatment facility site plan

Site plan for non-traditional wastewater treatment on 374 acres off Owen Hill Road was deferred to July 2025 meeting
Commissioner Hatcher recused himself from this item
Richard Howes from SEC confirmed well location questions need resolution—residents identified wells within 500ft of treatment system
Staff noted water line upgrades will be required and off-site improvements will be detailed when concept plan returns next month
Christie clarified county requirements: 500ft from private wells, 1,500ft from public wells for all wastewater treatment components

Vista Creek subdivision concept plan revision

Commission approved concept plan revision increasing lots from 16 to 18 on 137.56 acres off Old Hillsborough Road
Kelsey McGee from T Square Engineering represented the project
Includes 21.59 acres of open space with private gated roads
Water provided by HB&TS Utility District, individual septic systems approved by Williamson County Department of Sewage Disposal Management
Originally approved in May 2023

Village at Triune West preliminary plat

Commission approved preliminary plat for 97 single family lots and 133 multifamily lots on 159.94 acres off Murfreesboro Road and Horton Highway
Chase Kerr from Crunk Engineering represented the project
Contains 59 acres of open space with combination of public and private gated roadways
Multiple gates planned to restrict public access to townhome sections
Wastewater handled by Triune wastewater facility, requires off-site roadway improvements approved by TDOT
All off-site improvements must be completed before first final plat submittal

Highland Hill subdivision phase six preliminary plat

Commission approved preliminary plat for 38 lots on 126.08 acres off Murfreesboro Road (staff corrected location from originally stated Mullins Road)
Contains 87 acres of open space with private gated roads
Water provided by Millcroft Utility District, wastewater by Superior Wastewater Systems (King's Chapel capacity)
All lots are out of floodplain and waterway natural areas

King's Chapel subdivision final plat

Commission approved final plat for Section 15 containing 22 lots on 76.63 acres off Murfreesboro Road
Chase Curtin from Cronk Engineering represented the project
Includes 53 acres of open space with private gated roads
Water provided by Millcroft Utility District, wastewater by Superior Wastewater System (King's Chapel capacity)

Telefaro subdivision final plat

Commission approved final plat for 27 lots on 196.63 acres off Telefaro Road
Commissioner McCord recused himself from this item
Contains 148 acres of open space with public roads
Water provided by Nolensville College Grove Utility District, non-traditional wastewater treatment system

Public comments on Owen Valley development

Connor Valentine (6920 Owendale Lane) identified private well 400-500ft from Owen Valley development that wasn't documented in application materials
Valentine raised concerns about existing low water pressure (25 psi) and impact of 72 new homes on water infrastructure
Joe Novak (6913 Owendale Lane) expressed similar concerns about water infrastructure capacity on Owen Hill Road

Well location verification requirements

County requires identification of wells within 500ft of private water supply wells and 1,500ft of public water supply wells from all wastewater treatment components
Wells within 500ft of wastewater treatment disposal systems require monitoring
Owen Valley application deferred because residents identified wells not documented in original submission

Highland Park Hill amenity center deferral

Item 35 added to agenda as non-agenda item for site plan review on 6.56 acres off Murfreesboro Road
Applicant requested deferral to July 2025 planning commission meeting
Commission approved the deferral request

Next Week

Monday June 16th

Human Resources Committee meets at 5:30 pm in the county executive conference room at 1320 W. Main, Franklin. Resolution Resolution Grant Contract Resolution

Wednesday June 18th

Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee meets at 5:30 pm in the county executive conference room at 1320 W. Main, Franklin. The same resolutions and grant contract as the Human Resources will be voted on.

Friday June 20th

The County Commission will be meeting to vote on the 2025-26 budget and tax rate. The meeting starts at 8:00 am in the Auditorium in the county Building at 1320 W. Main, Franklin. Full packet

These are all public meetings and anyone can attend.

Williamson County Commission Committees

Board of Mayor and Aldermen

Tuesday June 10th

BOMA Work Session meets Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

[ ] Participant 10 - Provide legal case examples for Real Estate Infrastructure Development Districts Provide examples of legal cases from outside Tennessee related to Real Estate Infrastructure Development Districts, particularly focusing on nexus-related cases, to help the board understand potential risks and legal precedents.

Overview

East Works District received 18-month vesting extension until January 14, 2027 for 1,615 units and 605 hotel rooms development
City approved $7.75 million emergency contract with Garney Construction for Hobas pipe repair behind Ewingville neighborhood
Board authorized bond resolution for up to $15 million to potentially reimburse emergency sewer repair costs
AIG Franklin Developer agreed to $8 million escrow for Margin District underground excavation risks
Extensive policy discussion on new infrastructure development districts law - board expressed strong support for tool to incentivize superior community benefits including workforce housing and redevelopment

Temporary beer permit proposal

Rob Pinson proposed temporary beer permits based on temporary certificates of occupancy, similar to Nashville's practice
Pinson noted restaurants won't open without alcohol sales capability, even with minor outstanding issues like fire doors or water runoff
Pinson offered to provide written proposal for future beer board consideration

East Works District vesting extension

Chelsea presented 18-month extension request from July 14, 2025 until January 14, 2027
Original development plan approved July 14, 2020 for 1,615 units, 9 townhomes, 1 million square feet non-residential space, and 605 hotel rooms
Project includes 7 modifications of standards and has received one previous vesting extension
Participant 3 strongly supported extension, citing major stormwater improvements and infrastructure benefits from this largest redevelopment project outside Margin District
Participant 5 agreed the delayed timeline was "blessing in disguise" allowing better planning

Transportation safety plan

Jonathan presented Resolution 2025-32 for Safe Streets and Roads for All Transportation Safety Action Plan
Plan commits to 20% reduction in serious injury and fatality crashes by 2040
Implementation grant application due June 26th - this is the last guaranteed funding round
Participant 4 questioned whether plan would change crosswalk approval policies
Jonathan clarified existing crosswalk standards remain unchanged - plan identifies existing issues for potential grant funding
Participant 3 raised concerns about mid-block crossings and walkability in developments like McCays Mill

Emergency Hobas pipe repair funding

Eric presented $7.75 million contract with Garney Construction for emergency Hobas pipe repair behind Ewingville
This is the 4th such failure in approximately 7 years - all near river locations with flooding issues
Michelle noted cost assumes full replacement but hopes to reduce through CIPP lining where possible
City pursued previous litigation and reached settlement, continuing to review options for this repair
Participant 5 noted pattern of failures near river locations due to flooding and backfill issues
Michelle confirmed city no longer installs Hobas pipe and sent notification letters to Ewingville residents

Bond resolution for sewer repairs

Christine presented intent resolution for up to $15 million in water and sewer system revenue bonds
Resolution enables potential reimbursement for emergency repair costs and future systematic Hobas pipe replacement program
Michelle identified budget adjustments to free up cash for partial funding, but borrowing likely needed
Participant 4 questioned timing of systematic lining program versus emergency replacements
Eric confirmed staff developing long-term plan to assess and address large diameter Hobas pipe throughout system

Margin District escrow agreement

Vernon presented $8 million escrow agreement with AIG Franklin Developer for underground excavation risks
Project involves 40+ feet deep excavation for underground parking - unique depth creates potential risks
Developer voluntarily offered cash escrow rather than letter of credit or insurance bond
Participant 5 questioned if other cities require similar arrangements for underground parking projects
Vernon noted this was developer's voluntary offer, eliminating need to research other municipal practices

Infrastructure development districts policy framework

Shawna presented new Real Estate Improvement District Act allowing commercial and residential projects
Law requires 30-45 day timeline from petition filing to public hearing and board decision
Eric emphasized need for policy framework since developers can petition at any time
Participant 4 noted Franklin initiated this state law through impact fee discussions with NAOP
Vernon outlined 4 potential community benefit criteria: extraordinary development quality, housing diversity, redevelopment focus, and enhanced public services
Participant 4 strongly advocated using tool for "better not bigger" development - incentivizing workforce housing, superior design, and redevelopment
Participant 5 supported "superior" benefit standard and suggested specific criteria for rural character areas and Cool Springs redevelopment
Participant 3 noted tool has existed since 1987 in other states and provides opportunity for developers to dedicate land for schools and fire stations
Board expressed general support for developing comprehensive policy framework before receiving first petition

BOMA Meeting Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

[ ] Angela Park - Send video of construction blasting to city recorder Send video evidence of 2am construction blasting at Carruthers Glen construction site to recorder@franklintn.gov for distribution to aldermen and staff
[ ] Vernon Gerth - Follow up with resident about construction site safety concerns Contact Angela Park at 1175 Cross Creek Drive to work through specifics related to Carothers Glen development including blasting notifications, safety barriers, and state fire marshal contact information for blasting oversight

Overview

Board approved FY 2025-26 budget of $243.3 million and set property tax rate at 32 cents per hundred dollars of assessed valuation
Property tax increase generates $100 million in new capacity for infrastructure projects, specifically $50 million commitment for Mac Hatcher Southeast widening partnership with TDOT
Hotel occupancy tax approved to increase from 4% to 5% effective January 1st, 2026
Emergency sewer pipe repair contract approved for $7.75 million behind Ewingville neighborhood
Water and sewer rate increases approved for 2026-2028 implementation
Leah White appointed to Franklin Transit Authority
Mike Nixon recognized for Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame induction

FY 2025-26 budget approval

Board approved $243.3 million total budget across all funds, representing 2.7% decrease from current amended budget
General fund increased to $128.1 million, a 9.7% increase with 6% directly attributable to capital project contributions
Budget includes 10 new positions across all funds, with 8 in general fund (7 public safety positions)
Michael Wolters Young presented final budget amendment of $3.9 million in matching revenue and expense increases for FY 2025
Budget maintains triple-A bond rating and 70% reserve levels, well above policy requirements
Compensation plan fully implemented moving entire organization to 90th percentile of market targets
Base pay increase of 2.5% plus up to 2.5% performance-based increase for city employees

Property tax rate setting

Board set property tax rate at 32 cents per hundred dollars of assessed valuation after defeating amendment to reduce to 28.286 cents
County reappraisal increased total tax base from $7.6 billion to $10.75 billion, the largest increase in city history
New rate breaks down to 23.1 cents (certified rate), 6.8 cents (Invest Franklin 2.0 for capital projects), and 2.1 cents (operations)
6.8 cents generates $100 million capacity dedicated to capital projects, including $50 million for Mac Hatcher Southeast widening
Average home value now $1.04 million with proposed rate adding $231 annually to city property tax component
Amendment by Participant 5 to reduce rate to 28.286 cents failed 5-3, with support from Participants 2, 3, and 5

Construction blasting concerns

Angela Park and residents from Cross Creek Track raised concerns about explosive blasting at Carruthers Glen construction site
Residents reported blasting at 2:00 AM causing distress to families with autistic members and safety concerns
Park documented injured wildlife including fawns with broken legs from construction drop-offs
City staff committed to provide contact with Vernon Gerth and state fire marshal oversight for blasting regulations
Residents requested text notifications before blasting and barriers to prevent access to their properties

Mike Nixon hall of fame recognition

Mayor presented proclamation recognizing Mike Nixon's induction as #58 into Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame
Nixon achieved rare distinction of completing U.S. Junior, Amateur, Mid-Amateur, Pub Links, and Senior Amateur over 52 years
Won Tennessee PGA Professional Championship in 1980 and 1981, plus multiple state senior titles
Served as Director of Golf Operations for Tennessee State Parks from 2011-2022 overseeing 9 state park golf courses
Dick Horton from Tennessee Golf Foundation participated in recognition ceremony

Hotel occupancy tax increase

Board approved increase from 4% to 5% effective January 1st, 2026, generating $1.2-1.3 million annually
City working to clarify state authority with comptroller's office, may seek Attorney General opinion within 2 weeks
Participant 5 expressed concerns from Visit Franklin board about pricing competitiveness with group rates
Revenue dedicated to parks improvements and tourism product enhancements
Rate increase puts Franklin below Nashville's 15.25% rate but equal to Murfreesboro's 5%

Water and sewer rate updates

Board approved water and sanitary sewer user fee and impact fee updates for 2026-2028
Rates take effect January 1st, 2026 as previously approved on first reading
Residential trash and recycling fee increased by $2 as previously approved by board

Emergency sewer pipe repair

Board approved $7.75 million contract with Garney Construction for emergency Hobas pipe repair behind Ewingville neighborhood
Project addresses critical infrastructure failure requiring immediate attention
Contract amount: $7,750,424 for emergency repairs

Transit board appointment

Board unanimously appointed Leah White to Franklin Transit Authority
White works with special needs students and has extensive experience helping them learn transit system usage
Appointment moved to top of agenda at Participant 5's request for early recognition

Thursday June 12th

Budget and Finance Agenda Video s

AI Summary

Budget and Finance Committee Agenda Video

AI Summary

Overview

Committee reviewed six policy and financial items but could not vote due to lack of quorum
Margaret presented three major policy updates: travel/expense documentation requirements, payroll software transition from Kronos to UKG, and investment policy clarification on federal agency securities
Parks department proposed new rental fees for Harlinsdale Barn ($5,500 weekend rate) and Bicentennial Park ($3,000 weekend rate) opening June 18th
Third quarter shows $10.2 million general fund surplus with local sales taxes up 6.3% over last year
Conference center generated $380,794 gain through April with $69,000 gain in April alone

Travel and expense policy updates

Margaret updated documentation requirements to specify itemized receipts showing attendees and dates for city records
Travel meal classification clarified: overnight stays qualify as travel meals, day trips like Murfreesboro or Clarksville meetings are business expenses but not travel meals
$5 daily personal phone call reimbursement removed since 99% of employees now have cell phones

Payroll procedures amendments

Software names updated throughout procedures from Kronos to UKG and Green Employee to UKG
Supervisory duties established for timekeeping approvals with specific deadlines
Jury duty policy changed to let employees keep small checks ($5 or $10) while still receiving full day pay
Gift cards from Nectar program now classified as taxable income per IRS requirements and taxed on pay stubs
Crossing guards transitioning from paper timesheets to UKG electronic clock-in system

Investment policy changes

Christine explained resolution of state-level dispute between Tennessee treasurer and comptroller regarding federal agency securities
Policy updated to allow purchase of treasury agency securities again after statute clarification removed AAA rating requirement
City currently holds few agency securities with one maturing in coming months

Parks facility rental fees

Suzanne Carr presented new fees for Harlansdale Barn: $5,500 for weekend indoor/outdoor combo, $5,000 weekend indoor only, $2,500 weekday indoor rate
Bicentennial Park opening Wednesday, June 18th with $3,000 weekend rental, $1,500 weekday rate
Park closure fees established: $5,000 full closure event day, $2,000 setup day, $1,000-$2,000 partial closures
Staff fees set at $45 per hour across all facilities
Friends of Franklin Parks maintains lease on 8-acre equestrian arena and receives up to 3 free annual events in park system

Third quarter financial report

General fund shows $10.2 million surplus as of March 31st
Local sales taxes 6.3% higher than previous year
Interest income increased across nearly all funds due to higher investment portfolio earnings

Monthly financial report

Building permits 8.5% higher than FY24
Conference center profitable 6 out of 9 months with $69,000 April gain
Year-to-date conference center gain of $380,794 through April

For Next Week go here

Election Commission

There were no meetings this week and none next week

If not me, who?

If not now, when?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1)

“We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer gently.” (1^st Corinthians 4:12-13)

Blessings,

Bill

pettyandassociates@gmail.com

Community resources

If you like Friday Recap, check out these other grassroots conservative projects!

Williamson County Citizens Provides free tools and information to help grassroots conservatives exercise their citizenship here in Williamson County.
Tennessee Voters for Election Integrity is helping restore confidence in Tennessee Elections.
TruthWire Local news and commentary.
Williamson County Republican Party is one of the most active parties in the state and captures the conservative heart of Tennessee.
Mom's For Liberty Williamson County is dedicated to fighting for the American family by unifying, educating and empowering parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government.
Tennessee Stands produces video media, podcasts, and live events, and provides social commentary on relevant issues in our state.
M4LU is a new site developed by the national Mom's for Liberty but generated right here in Williamson County. The mission of M4LU is to to inform, equip, and empower parents with knowledge, understanding and practical tools.
WCSB Substack. This site reports on the Williamson County School Board meetings. It provides accurate summaries of all WCSB meetings.

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