My Comment

We all got our new property assessments this past Monday. Here is what you need to know:

We are currently on a four year cycle for our property assessments. The last time we were assessed was 2021. Since then, our property values have increased substantially. Residential rates have increased an average of 62% and total property values including commercial and personal property and farm green belt has increased an average of 52%.

According to state law, a county cannot take in more revenue from real property than the year prior to the reassessment. To be clear, this is the aggregate tax taken in, so individual rates will vary. For example, if your assessed value went up more than 52%, you will be paying more than last year. If you went up less than 52%, you will pay less.

Each county has to equalize their tax rate so that they will be collecting the same amount of tax as the year prior to the assessment. The State sets a Certified tax rate for each county which is the number needed for equalization; that number for Williamson County is $1.2433 per $100 of assessed value.

Here is an example of one residence. You all have the same information on your assessment change notice. As you can see, the assessed value is 25% of the appraised value. In this case, the assessed value went up from $103,800 to $170,950 or about 65% (170,950-103,800)/103,800= 64.69%. When the new assessed value is multiplied by the certified tax rate the new tax is $2,125 (170,950 x 1.2433)/100= $2,125. The current tax rate is $1.88* per $100 which yields a tax of $1,951 ($1.88 x 103,800)/100= $1,951. The difference between the two is 2,125-1951= $164 which is an 8.4% increase 164/1951= 8.4%.

On Tuesday, the Williamson County budget committee recommended a tax rate of $1.34. For the above property that would change the total tax to $2,291 which is a 17.4% increase (2,291-1,951)/1,951= 17.4%

Every penny of tax for the property above represents $17.10.

To get a better idea of what your tax dollars are paying for, check out the table below.

*If you live in Franklin, your current county tax rate is $1.83; Franklin has their own Solid Waste/Sanitation Department along with other services and the tax rate for all of that is $.3261 so your total tax is $2.1561. The certified tax rate for Franklin, after the assessment change, is $.2310 and at Thursday's City Budget meeting, a rate of $.3200 was proposed.

Bottom line, taxes are most likely going up. I live in Franklin, if the county goes to $1.34 ($1.31 for Franklin residents) and the city goes to $.3200, I will see an increase of 25%.

Did You Know?

Williamson County Juvenile court Part I

The Juvenile Court is one of those departments that is out of sight and out of mind, but is something that is very necessary and impactful.  To get a grasp of what this department does, you can start at the county website here.

What the court does

Adjudication of delinquent acts.  Delinquent acts refer to unlawful behaviors committed by minors, typically those under 18 years old, which would be considered crimes if committed by an adult. These acts are handled within the juvenile justice system and are not typically referred to as "crimes". Examples include property crimes like theft and vandalism, as well as offenses like assault, drug violations, and disorderly conduct. 

Adjudication of status offenses.  Status offenses are actions considered illegal for juveniles but not for adults. Examples include truancy, running away, violating curfew, and underage possession of alcohol or tobacco. These offenses, if committed by an adult, would not be a crime.  

Adjudication of children as dependent and neglected or abused.  In Tennessee, a child is considered dependent and neglected when they are without proper care, protection, or supervision from a parent, guardian, or custodian, or when they are suffering from abuse or neglect. This can include situations where a parent or guardian is unfit to care for the child, or where the child is under unlawful or improper care. 

All matters pertaining to children of unwed parents (establish paternity, custody, visitation, child support). 

Oversight of children that are in custody of the Department of Children’s Services.

Termination of parental Rights/Surrender of Parental Rights

Transfer delinquency case to adult court

Child Support Court

All of this results in approximately 6000 court events per year which equates to 500 per month or 25 per day.

How many Cases does the court see in a year?

 In 2024 the court handled over 2,000 new cases:

238 felony charges

1,660 misdemeanors

            77 assaults

            147 criminal trespass

            46 disorderly conducts

80 possession of schedule VI drugs such as marijuana, though other unconventional recreational drugs are also included, such as toluene (in spray paint), amyl nitrite (poppers), and Nitrous oxide (in many aerosols).

            401 speeding

414 Status offenses

            29 runaways

            93 Truancies

            138 Unruly behavior

190. Dependency and Neglect

Matters involving School Threats

These are rare, but are always taken seriously.  This year, the number of threats is down from 30 last year to around 15 so far this year.

When a child makes a threat to do harm to fellow students, he or she is detained and must go through the following:

Undergo an evaluation

Be monitored

Get patted down every day when entering a school

Undergo counseling

Have consistent reviews

Be under zero tolerance for their behavior

Keeping our schools safe is the absolute number one priority for our county and the juvenile court is instrumental in maintaining safety for our students.

Stay tuned for part II next week.

This past week the following committees/commissions met:

Monday May 12th

• Williamson County Commission

Tuesday May 13th

• Williamson County Econmic Development
• Williamson County Budget
• Franklin BOMA Work Session
• Franklin BOMA Board

Wednesday May 14th

• Franklin Budget and finance Committee

Thursday May 15th

• Williamson County School Board Work Session
• Williamson County Purchasing and Insurance Committee

AI Disclaimer:

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

School Board Work session met on Thursday May 15th agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Jason Golden - Establish a Booster Leadership Council Contact athletic booster club presidents to establish a leadership council similar to the former PTO leadership council to facilitate communication and collaboration between booster clubs.
• [ ] Dana Ausbrooks - Revise policy 6.411 Student Wellness based on public chapter language Update the Student Wellness policy language to accurately reflect the public chapter requirements, particularly regarding unstructured physical activity for elementary versus secondary students.
• [ ] Dana Ausbrooks - Return policy 4.601 to the policy committee for further revision Take the Student and Parent Guardian Rights to Access Tests policy back to the policy committee for further discussion and revision before bringing it back for second reading.
• [ ] Jason Golden - Recommend an alternative date for the January 5th policy meeting Look into scheduling options for moving the January 5th policy meeting to December and make a recommendation before Monday night's meeting.
• [ ] Brian King - Provide the school start times presentation in advance of the next meeting Send the school start times presentation to board members before the next work session so they can review it and prepare questions in advance.
• [ ] Dr. Webb - Share CREP survey results with board members Provide the district-wide and school-specific results from the Center for Research in Education Policy (CREP) survey to board members.
• [ ] Amy Mafi - Provide more data on student outcomes related to school start times Gather and present additional data on student academic outcomes related to school start time changes, with more specific examples and details from research studies.
• [ ] Jason Golden - Share preliminary data from the bullying task force Provide preliminary data from the bullying task force to board members before the superintendent evaluation in June.
• [ ] Brian King - Provide more data on Cherry Creek school district's experience with flipped start times Expand on the Cherry Creek research and provide more specific details about their experience with flipped start times, including post-implementation survey results.
• [ ] Jason Golden - Continue exploring school start times and provide updates at future work sessions Continue the analysis of school start times and provide updates at each of the next four work sessions before November when a decision would need to be made for the 2026-27 school year.

Overview

• School start times committee presented analysis showing potential impacts of flipping elementary and secondary start times, with board requesting more data before making decisions
• Superintendent provided annual goals update focusing on bullying task force, pay increases, and alternative funding sources
• Budget committee approved the district's proposed budget with 5 cents of new tax rate allocated to schools
• Board discussed policy updates for semester exams (maintaining 15% weight) and student wellness (implementing new recess requirements)
• Board approved moving forward with 2025-26 pay charts featuring 2% teacher salary increases, with most teachers receiving approximately 4% total increases when step increases are included
• Screen time committee held first meeting with strong interest in addressing cell phone usage as top priority

School start times analysis and evaluation

• Committee analyzed potential "flip" of start times (elementary starting first, secondary later)
• Current schedule has high schools starting at 7:40-7:50am and elementary schools at 8:30-9:00am
• Research shows adolescents have different sleep patterns than younger children, with later start times potentially improving sleep duration
• Secondary students showed slight academic improvements with later start times in studies
• Elementary administrators saw more benefits than obstacles for earlier start times
• Secondary administrators identified more obstacles than benefits, particularly regarding athletics
• Major implementation challenges identified:
• Need for $4.6 million in lighting for middle school athletic fields
• Elementary students would wait for buses in dark during 8 months of year
• Potential impacts on extracurricular activities and athletics
• Cherry Creek School District (Colorado) implemented flipped start times in 2017 with positive results but different athletic structure than WCS
• Board requested more data before November 2025 decision deadline for potential 2026-27 implementation

Superintendent's annual goals update

• Goal 1: Student behavior and bullying task force established with first meeting scheduled for tomorrow
• Goal 2: Proposed pay increases within available funding, focusing on teacher pay
• Goal 3: Alternative funding sources through collaborative efforts
• PTO leadership indicated preference to maintain current fundraising structure
• Education Foundation reinstated to accept corporate donations
• Potential scholarship program with local university for students entering education

Operations report on construction projects

• Brentwood Middle School construction progressing with drywall complete on first and second floors
• Transportation Building nearing completion with final inspection soon
• Innovation Center construction underway with first slab poured on May 5
• Maintenance department preparing for extensive summer projects

2025-26 budget status update

• Budget Committee approved district's proposed budget on May 5
• Public hearing scheduled for June 3 at 5:30pm
• Full commission vote scheduled for June 20
• New certified tax rate is $1.2433 (down from $1.88)
• Budget committee proposing tax rate of $1.34 with 5 cents allocated to schools
• Current value of one penny on tax rate is approximately $2.7 million in revenue

Budget amendments for custodial supervision and other areas

• Custodial supervision: $20,000 increase due to higher facility usage by churches (revenue offset)
• Trustees commission: $300,000 increase due to higher property tax collections
• Energy systems conservation debt: $1.163 million for ESCO payment (previously forgiven)
• Insurance: $700,000 increase for liability, excess risk, workers comp, and building/content insurance
• Textbooks: $900,000 increase to complete purchasing (previously reduced during budget process)
• Special education: Transfer between lines for mileage and contracted services
• Traffic light: Funds moved from contingency to install traffic light at Gosey Hill for Creekside

Policy updates for semester exams and student wellness

• Semester exams policy (4.7001):
• State minimum weight changed from 15% to 5% of semester grade
• Staff recommended maintaining 15% weight for consistency
• Board discussed maintaining consistent weight across all courses
• Student wellness policy (6.411):
• Updated to reflect new state law requiring 45 minutes of unstructured physical activity for elementary students
• Middle and high school students to receive 90 minutes of physical activity weekly
• Policy clarifies physical activity shall not be withheld as punishment
• Board discussed potential future increase to 60 minutes for elementary students

Special education service delivery logs discussion

• Board member Bostic proposed amendment to require service delivery logs for speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists
• Proposed logs would document student name, service provider, location, type of service, date, time, and duration
• Discussion centered on workload impact for providers with large caseloads
• Alternative proposal to explore using Tennessee Pulse system for tracking services
• Board agreed to continue discussion at future meeting

Student access to tests policy review

• Board discussed policy language regarding student access to tests and quizzes
• Concerns raised about "when appropriate" language potentially diluting policy intent
• Board member proposed more specific language about test security concerns and feedback methods
• Board agreed to return policy to committee for further refinement

Approval of 2025-26 pay charts

• Teacher pay chart includes 2% increase on every cell except year 21+
• Year 21+ salary increased from $69,344 to $76,578 to attract experienced teachers
• Most teachers will receive approximately 4% total increase when step increases included
• Supplements increased by $1.1 million total
• Special education teacher retention bonus doubled from $600 to $1,200
• Added two days holiday pay for 10 and 11-month classified employees
• Substitute daily rate increased by $10
• Total cost for raises approximately $16 million

Screen time committee progress and timeline

• Committee held first meeting with strong interest in addressing cell phone usage
• Four focus areas identified: integrating technology, screen time, personal devices, and parent resources
• Committee requested to prioritize cell phone policy recommendations due to new state law
• Timeline discussion:
• Initial baseline cell phone policy required by July 1, 2025
• Committee meetings scheduled for August and September
• Recommendations on personal devices expected by September
• Additional recommendations to follow throughout the year
• Board discussed potentially accelerating timeline but acknowledged need for thorough process

Booster Leadership Council and athletic fund oversight

• Proposal to create Booster Leadership Council similar to PTO leadership structure
• Goal to improve communication between booster clubs and provide collaboration opportunities
• Discussion of athletic fund oversight for approximately $5.5 million flowing through school athletic funds
• Proposal for booster organizations to serve in advisory capacity for athletic fund expenditures

Next Week:

The School Board will meet on Monday May 19th at 6:30 pm at 6:30 PM in the Auditorium at the Williamson County Administrative Building unless otherwise noted. The Administrative Building is located on the first floor at 1320 West Main Street, Franklin Agenda Video video will start at 6:30 pm on Monday and be available after that anytime.

If you want to speak at this meeting:

Thirty (30) minutes are placed on the agenda for the Chair to recognize individuals to make comments. If you’d like to speak during public comment, please send your name, complete mailing address, topic of comments and any organization you represent to publiccomment@wcs.edu. You may sign up for public comment for the next meeting between Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 12 p.m. through Monday, May 19, 2025 at 12 p.m.

After the district receives your email request to speak and the items listed above, you will receive a confirmation email. Please bring that email and a photo ID with you to the meeting.

Williamson County Commission

Williamson County Commission committees

Monday May 12th

The County Commission Met meeting packet March budget report March minutes Video

I mentioned last week that I was hopeful that we could pass resolution 5-25-1 that would require us to publish agendas and pertinent information for every county committee meeting. Brian Clifford moved that we defer the resolution until our June meeting. If you go to the 1:33:50 mark in the video, you can watch the interaction that took place. The vote to defer won 13-10. I will keep pushing to get this done.

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Sean Aiello - Schedule Rules Committee meeting before June commission meeting Schedule a Rules Committee meeting before the June commission meeting to discuss the resolution about publishing committee meeting agendas 48 hours in advance.

Overview

• Brad Coleman reported property values increased by 52% overall with residential properties up 62%, resulting in a proposed certified tax rate of $1.25 (down from $1.88)
• Commission approved changing from a four-year to three-year property reappraisal cycle to address issues with sales ratio calculations that cost the county $7 million in tax revenue
• Commissioner Jeff Graves announced his resignation effective May 31, 2025 as he accepted a pastor position in Indiana
• Commission approved $13,815,400 for school security technology needs and $12,153,000 for school asphalt, roofs, and HVAC needs
• Commission approved $3 million for Hillsborough K-8 renovation and $1 million for Grassland Middle School renovation

Property tax reappraisal update

• Brad Coleman reported property values increased by 52% overall with residential properties up 62%
• Proposed certified tax rate will be approximately $1.25 (specifically $1.2483), pending State Board of Equalization approval
• Property assessment postcards arrived on May 12, 2025
• Each penny of the tax rate will generate approximately $2.9 million in revenue
• Total assessed property value increased from $19.3 billion to $29 billion

County seal litigation status

• Jeff Moseley reported that Public Chapter 389 passed in April 2025 designating county seals as memorials
• New law likely renders current appeal moot as it changes jurisdiction from Historical Commission to newly created Memorial and Monuments Commission
• County would need to start over with petition to the new commission if they want to pursue changing the seal
• Commission may need to provide new direction on how to proceed in coming months

Mental Health Awareness Month proclamation

• Commission declared May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Williamson County
• Proclamation highlighted that mental health conditions affect one in five adults each year
• Volunteer Behavioral Health committed to delivering high-quality mental health services and advocacy

Recognition of Williamson County wrestling champions

• Recognized 103 wrestlers who qualified for Tennessee AAU State Individual Wrestling Championship
• Honored 48 medalists, 11 state finalists, and 5 state champions from Williamson County Schools
• Summit High School placed second overall in TSSAA state dual championship

Recognition of Grassland Middle School cheerleaders

• Recognized cheerleaders as national champions at the National High School Cheerleading Championship
• Team won first place in large junior high game day division at multiple competitions
• Team won back-to-back TSSAA State Championships in large junior high game day division

Commissioner Jeff Graves resignation announcement

• Commissioner Graves announced resignation effective May 31, 2025
• Accepted position as pastor at a church in Indiana
• Commissioner Mason clarified that interested District 3 residents should contact her about the vacancy
• Vacancy must be filled within 120 days with term running until next general election in August 2026

Williamson County Schools report

• Superintendent Golden reported 42 seniors committed to US military service, representing 1.2% of senior class
• Commission approved $4 million for letter grade bonuses for teachers
• Commission approved $2,080,927.52 for additional cafeteria fund expenditures

Hospital financial report

• Hospital reported net operating revenue of $30 million against budget of $29 million for March
• Operating expenses were $31 million against budget of $30 million
• Bottom line profit of $102,000 versus budget of $70,000
• Year-to-date profitability at $5.1 million against budget of $4.2 million
• Cool Springs Conference Center reported record profit of $167,881 for March

Artificial Intelligence policy adoption

• Commission unanimously approved generative AI policy for county departments
• Policy establishes governance around AI use to protect data integrity
• Policy protects healthcare information and personally identifiable information
• Policy falls under existing computer use policy for enforcement

Three-year property reappraisal cycle approval

• Commission approved changing from four-year to three-year property reappraisal cycle
• Change addresses issues with sales ratio calculations that cost county $7 million in tax revenue
• Brad Coleman indicated potential future move to two-year cycle to eliminate sales ratio entirely
• Vote was 17-6 in favor of the change

I-65 widening resolution

• Commission approved resolution supporting widening of I-65 from I-840 (exit 59) to Bear Creek Pike (exit 46)
• Resolution coordinates with similar resolutions passed by Spring Hill, Columbia, and Murray County
• Project aims to address congestion where traffic narrows from five lanes to two
• Resolution will be presented to Greater Nashville Regional Council and TDOT

School security and capital improvements funding

• Commission approved $13,815,400 for school security technology needs
• Commission approved $12,153,000 for school asphalt, roofs, and HVAC needs
• Commission approved $3 million for Hillsborough K-8 renovation (reduced from original $6.6 million request)
• Commission approved $1 million for Grassland Middle School renovation (reduced from original $7 million request)

Juvenile detention center contracts

• Commission approved contracts with Cannon, Madison, and Smith counties to house juveniles
• Rate increased from $125 to $200 per day for housing out-of-county juveniles
• Juvenile Court collected $26,000 year-to-date from county contracts
• Contracts specify other counties are responsible for transportation and medical expenses

Tuesday May 13th

The Economic Development Council Met. I have no information on this meeting.

Budget Committee met Minutes Video

County Budget Details Consolidated budget Transfers Solid Waste Drug Control General Debt Service Rural Debt Service

AI Summary

Overview

• Committee approved a proposed tax rate of 1.34 (up from certified rate of 1.2433), representing a 10-cent increase
• Sheriff's department budget amendment for additional $520,000 to reach 75th percentile in compensation failed in a 2-3 vote
• Total consolidated county budget approved at $904,145,991, up from previous year's $853,207,687
• Budget will require approximately $16.9 million draw from fund balance despite tax increase
• Public hearing scheduled for June 3rd at 5:30 PM with final budget adoption set for June 20th at 9:00 AM

Budget transfers between departments

• Committee approved $1,200 transfer from Judge Andre and Judge Taylor from contracted services to communications
• Approved transfer of surplus vehicle from sound department to property management
• Approved $7,000 transfer from assistance line to part-time line for 21st Judicial District
• Approved $219,600 transfer for Parks and Recreation, including $165,000 for part-time personnel
• Approved $75,000 transfer from gas to vehicle maintenance for Sheriff's office
• Approved $2,600 transfer from travel to postage for Sheriff's office
• Approved $200 transfer from printing to communications for Register of Deeds

Sheriff's department budget amendment proposal

• Commissioner Smith proposed increasing Sheriff's department budget by $520,000 to reach 75th percentile in compensation
• Current compensation at 68th percentile according to compensation study
• Commissioner Smith argued increase would help with recruiting and retention issues
• Commissioner cited potential cost savings in school Chromebook funding and prescription drug plan changes to offset costs
• Amendment failed in 2-3 vote
• Sheriff's department budget approved at $54,792,319 in a 4-1 vote

Department budget approvals

• General administration approved at $24,225,451
• Finance approved at $7,966,927
• Administration of Justice approved at $6,394,381
• Public Safety approved at $54,792,319
• Public Health and Welfare approved at $14,089,918
• Social, Cultural and Recreational services approved at $27,526,297
• Agricultural and Natural Resources approved at $950,537
• Other General Government approved at $3,861,690
• Total General Fund approved at $174,007,520

School Chromebook funding discussion

• Commissioner Smith questioned $6 million Chromebook funding, calculating need at closer to $2.5 million
• School representative clarified actual unit cost is $460 per Chromebook, not $200
• Cost includes four-year warranty, protective case, and screen protector
• Schools eliminated Chromebook replacements for kindergarten through second grade
• $909,000 allocated for carts for K-2 grades
• Schools will use older devices for younger grades rather than distributing to individual students

Certified tax rate review

• Committee accepted certified tax rate of 1.2433 (down from current 1.88)
• County General Fund certified rate: 0.252 (current 0.38)
• Solid Waste Sanitation Fund certified rate: 0.03163 (current 0.05)
• General Debt Service certified rate: 0.1459 (current 0.22)
• Rural Debt Service certified rate: 0.0909 (current 0.14)
• General Purpose School Fund certified rate: 0.7229 (current $1.09)

Proposed tax rate increase to 1.34

• Committee approved proposed tax rate of 1.34 for public notice
• Breakdown: 0.28 for General Fund, 0.03 for Solid Waste, 0.15 for General Debt Service, 0.11 for Rural Debt Service, 0.77 for Schools
• Even with tax increase, budget requires $16.9 million draw from fund balance
• General Fund will require $14 million draw from fund balance
• General Debt Service will require $949,000 draw from fund balance
• Rural Debt Service will require $1.6 million draw from fund balance

Property tax impact concerns

• Commissioner Smith expressed concern about 17.5% total tax increase for some residents
• Noted many properties seeing 63% or higher increases in assessed values
• Commissioner Smith advocated exploring alternative revenue sources including wheel tax and adequate facilities tax
• Expressed particular concern for long-term residents on fixed incomes
• Chair Herbert noted many residents willing to pay more for continued services
• Mayor noted this is one step in budget process with opportunities for adjustments before final approval
• Public hearing scheduled for June 3rd at 5:30 PM in the auditorium
• Final budget adoption scheduled for June 20th at 9:00 AM

Thursday May 15th

Purchasing and Insurance met at 4:30 in the County Administrative Complex Executive Conference Room 1320 West Main Street Franklin agenda Executive Summary benefits RFP summary of instructions

Next Week:

Wednesday May 21st

Law Enforcement and Public Safety will meet at 5:30 pm Williamson County Administrative Complex Executive Conference Room 1320 West Main StreetFranklin Minutes Agenda

Thursday May 22nd

Board of Zoning Appeals meets at 6:00pm in the County Administrative Complex Executive Conference Room 1320 West Main Street Franklin Agenda

These are all public meetings and anyone can attend.

Williamson County Commission Committees

Board of Mayor and Aldermen

Tuesday May 13th

BOMA Work Session Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Paul Holzen - Provide number for three acres and historic home purchase Provide a number or range for the reconciliation of purchases and what the ask would be for the three acres and historic home in the next week or so.
• [ ] Adam Balasch - Provide additional information about Harlan development Bring additional information to address questions raised during the meeting about the Harlan development for the public hearing.
• [ ] Paul Holzen - Bring exhibit showing long-term plan for Hillview Lane Bring an exhibit showing the long-term plan for Hillview Lane connecting to Mac Hatcher at a future meeting for the residents and the board to see.

Overview

• Creekside property master plan presented with potential to add 3 acres and historic home to existing 44 acres owned by city
• Q1 2025 development activity showed 1,753 permits issued with $361 million in construction value, the highest first quarter in 5 years
• Harlan PUD subdivision annexation and zoning generated significant discussion about traffic impact on Hillview Lane
• Multiple board members expressed concerns about timing of Harlan development relative to infrastructure, with Mac Hatcher extension not scheduled to begin until 2032
• Certified tax rate for FY26 reduced from 32.61 cents to 23.10 cents per $100 of assessed valuation

Creekside property master plan

• Alicia Elife from Kim Lee Horn presented master plan for 44-acre Creekside property
• Plan includes connecting to Matt Catcher multipurpose trails, Roper's Knob, and Harlinsdale Park
• Historic home on property built in 1840s remains one of best preserved antebellum homes in county
• Site includes historic barn, spring house, and garage structures in good condition
• City Administrator noted negotiations underway for purchase of additional 3 acres and historic home
• Alderman Baggett supported public-private partnership for rehabilitation of the historic home
• Board requested future discussion about adjacent 54-acre city-owned property

Q1 2025 development activity report

• Catherine reported 1,753 permits issued in first quarter, including 273 dwelling units
• Permit fees collected totaled just over $800,000
• Construction value of permitted projects reached $361 million, highest first quarter in 5 years
• Road impact fees collected totaled $2.2 million
• Water and sewer impact fees collected totaled $2.5 million
• West Haven active adult village and N-Out Burger office space were major developments in Q1

Harlan PUD subdivision annexation and zoning

• Joey presented plan for annexation and zoning of 311-acre property at 1247 Hillview Lane
• Property located within urban growth boundary but non-contiguous to city limits
• Development plan includes 242 residential units, 32,000 square feet of non-residential space, and 80-room hotel
• Plan offers 70% open space within project boundaries
• Staff recommended disapproval of 3 of 15 requested modifications of standards
• Planning Commission recommended disapproval of only 1 modification of standards

Modifications of standards for Harlan development

• Developer requested 15 modifications of standards, a record number for a single development
• Staff recommended disapproval of MOS #1 regarding setbacks with Mews Alley right-of-way due to fire department concerns
• Staff also recommended disapproval of MOS #2 and #3 regarding alternatives to porches, stoops, and balconies
• Planning Commission recommended approval for all modifications except MOS #1
• Adam Balasch (applicant) stated they support staff conditions of approval

Hillview Lane preservation concerns

• Multiple residents expressed concerns about impact on Hillview Lane's rural character
• Gene Lovell compared Harlan development to other Boyle developments with better infrastructure
• Rob Dodson emphasized preserving the quiet country road character of Hillview Lane
• Blair Garner noted many people use Hillview Lane for recreation and photography
• Angela Lovell highlighted the narrow, winding nature of the 1.2-mile lane with at least 9 turns
• Alderman Blanton stated she would not support any access through Hillview Lane

Traffic impact and infrastructure timing

• Greg Gamble presented traffic improvements including turn lanes on Coleman Road and synchronized signals at Coleman/Henpeck intersection
• Developer proposed to build Mac Hatcher extension from Columbia Avenue to Hillview Lane prior to first certificate of occupancy
• Traffic study projected 40 additional vehicles during peak hour at Mac Hatcher intersection
• Multiple board members expressed concerns about timing relative to Columbia Avenue and Mac Hatcher improvements
• Paul Holzen clarified Mac Hatcher extension not scheduled to begin until 2032
• Columbia Avenue improvements estimated for completion around 2030-2031

Road impact fee agreement with Boyle LLC

• Paul Holzen presented draft road impact fee agreement not to exceed $4,647,999
• Estimated cost for arterial improvements totaled $8.4 million
• Estimated cost for collector improvements totaled $2.7 million
• Developer would be responsible for gap between impact fees and improvement costs
• Draft interlocal agreement with Williamson County would transfer roadway maintenance to City of Franklin
• City would not extend emergency services or trash services to county areas

FY26 budget update and certified tax rate

• Certified tax rate reduced from 32.61 cents to 23.10 cents per $100 of assessed valuation
• City Administrator noted need to allocate funds for partnership funding with TDOT
• Only Mac Hatcher Southeast extension included in TDOT's 10-year plan (for 2032)
• Mac Hatcher Northwest extension not included in TDOT's current plan
• City planned to allocate 2-2.5 cents for additional operational support
• Budget and Finance Committee to meet Thursday for more detailed budget presentation
• Public hearing on budget scheduled for June 10, 2025

BOMA Board Meeting Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] City Staff - Review sign ordinance Review and update the city's sign ordinance to address issues with halo lighting and other sign-related concerns that have been causing multiple requests for modifications of standards.

Overview

• Board approved rezoning of 0.89 acres for Cook PUD subdivision with halo signage modification
• Approved annexation of 5.86 acres at 4356 South Carruthers Road for 27 townhome units
• Approved rezoning of Coletta Park PUD from PD 1.0 to PD 1.26 district, increasing from 199 to 232 single-family lots plus 27 townhomes
• Established June 24, 2025 public hearing for annexation of 311.21 acres at Hillview Lane
• Approved settlement of $14,500 in Christopher Pratt case against City of Franklin

Meeting call to order and roll call

• Mayor confirmed full attendance of all Aldermen
• Vice Mayor Potts led invocation
• Mayor led Pledge of Allegiance
• Board unanimously approved agenda as listed

Proclamations for National Public Works Week, National Preservation Month, and Mental Health Awareness Month

• Mayor proclaimed May 18-24, 2025 as National Public Works Week
• Public Works Director announced Touch a Truck event at Jim Warren Park on May 16, 2025 from 5-8pm with quiet hour from 5-6pm
• Mayor proclaimed May 2025 as National Preservation Month with theme "Harnessing the Power of Place"
• Mayor proclaimed May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month
• Mayor recognized Chief Faulkner as one of the distinguished ladies of Williamson County
• Mayor acknowledged city programs for mental health support for police and fire personnel

Rezoning for Cook PUD subdivision

• Board unanimously approved rezoning 0.89 acres from General Office district to planned PD 6900 district
• Property located at 903 Murfreesboro Road houses nonprofit Show Hope
• No changes proposed to existing 6,900 sq ft building

Development plan approval for Cook PUD with halo signage modification

• Board unanimously approved development plan with modification for halo lighting on wall sign
• Staff noted halo signage has been approved in other developments including Goose Creek Bypass PUD
• Staff indicated they are exploring zoning ordinance amendment to permit and regulate halo signage

Plan of services for South Carothers Road annexation

• Board unanimously approved plan of services for property at 4356 South Carothers Road
• Property located within Mill Crofton service area for water
• Property located within Goose Creek Basin service area identified as short-term capability area
• Sanitation Department noted need for additional personnel and equipment due to rapid growth in area

Annexation of property at 4356 South Carothers Road

• Board unanimously approved annexation of 5.86 acres at 4356 South Carothers Road
• Property contiguous to city limits and within eastern limits of urban growth boundary
• Property intended for 27 townhome residential lots

Rezoning of Coletta Park PUD subdivision

• Board approved rezoning from planned PD 1.0 district to planned PD 1.26 district with 6 yes votes, 1 no vote, and 1 abstention
• Development increased from 199 single-family lots on 199 acres to 232 single-family lots and 27 townhome units on 204.89 acres
• Plan includes five different lot sizes to provide range of single-family homes
• Development maintains one-acre lots at boundaries transitioning to Williamson County

Development plan approval for Coletta Park PUD

• Board approved revised development plan with 6 yes votes, 1 no vote, and 1 abstention
• Development exceeds required open space and tree save calculations
• Plan maintains current vesting for entirety of development including addition of South Carruthers Road property
• Development includes emergency access at Sanford Drive with gated road for emergency services

Parkland impact fee agreement for Coletta Park

• Board unanimously approved contract #20250019 with Ford Coletta LLC for parkland impact fee and construction agreement

Annexation proposal for Hillview Lane property

• Board voted 7-1 to establish June 24, 2025 public hearing for annexation of 311.21 acres at 1247 Hillview Lane
• Three residents expressed concerns about:
  • Potential removal of canopy trees along Hillview Lane
  • Impact on historic character including slave cemetery
  • Wildlife displacement
  • Traffic impact beyond projected 44 cars at peak time
  • Feasibility of sidewalk construction given ditches and hillsides
• Vice Mayor noted annexation would ensure hillside overlay protection
• Aldermen clarified vote to establish public hearing doesn't guarantee final approval

Zoning proposal for Harlan PUD subdivision

• Board voted 7-1 to establish June 24, 2025 public hearing for zoning 311.21 acres to planned PD district and hillside overlay district
• Property located at 1247 Hillview Lane
• First of three readings required for approval

Bond reimbursement resolution

• Board unanimously approved resolution declaring intent to reimburse city for project expenditures in amount not to exceed $113 million
• Reimbursement to come from proceeds of general obligation bonds, notes, or other obligations

Settlement approval in Christopher Pratt case

• Board unanimously approved settlement of $14,500 in case of Christopher Pratt versus City of Franklin
• Settlement agreement to be negotiated and finalized by city administrator

Thursday May 15th

Budget and Finance Committee Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Eric - Explore dedicated funding language for state road partnerships Develop language to ensure the 3.4 cents for Mac Hatcher would be dedicated specifically to state road partnership projects, creating guardrails for how those funds can be used.
• [ ] Eric - Reach out to board members about tax rate options Contact the rest of the board members about the property tax rate options before the May 27th meeting to provide information on the approval process and timing.
• [ ] Eric - Provide information on Mac Hatcher Southeast funding usage Provide more detailed information about how the 3.4 cents dedicated to Mac Hatcher Southeast would be used if approved, including potential phasing and early design work.
• [ ] Eric - Set aside time at May 27th work session Set aside a significant chunk of additional time at the May 27th work session to help the board discuss and decide on the property tax rate options.
• [ ] Eric - Prepare two property tax rate options for board consideration Prepare written ordinances for both the 32 cents and 29 cents property tax rate options to present to the full board for consideration at the May 27th meeting.

Overview

• Committee approved budget amendment for fiscal year 2024-2025 with $3.885 million increase in general fund revenues
• Recommended two property tax rate options to the full board: 32 cents (Scenario 1) or 29 cents (Scenario 2) per $100 of assessed valuation
• Proposed hotel/motel tax increase from 4% to 5%, the first increase since 2004
• Mac Hatcher Southeast road widening project secured TDOT partnership funding, while Northwest section was not approved
• Proposed budget includes updated compensation plan moving from 75th to 90th percentile of market competitiveness
• Budget includes 10 new positions with 7 of 8 general fund positions in public safety

Budget amendment for fiscal year 2024-2025

• General fund revenues increased by $3.885 million with five key components:
• $600,000 increase in property tax revenues transferred from debt service fund
• $1.6 million increase in local option sales tax (5.5% growth vs. 3% projected)
• $500,000 increase in state business tax
• $970,935 pass-through grant for Franklin's Charge from American Battlefield Trust
• $214,000 accounting entry for leased software
• Expenses increased by matching $3.885 million:
• $1.5 million for personnel cost modifications including vacancy adjustments
• $175,000 increase for fire operations vehicle repairs
• $700,000 increase in facilities budget for centralized utilities
• $1.075 million decrease in traffic operations due to delayed grant-funded projects
• $1.5 million transfer to stormwater fund to maintain appropriate fund balance

Proposed budget overview for fiscal year 2025-2026

• All funds budget of $243.3 million, a 2.7% decrease from amended fiscal year 2025
• General fund budget of $128.1 million, a 9.7% increase
• Total tax base assessment increased to $10.75 billion from $7.6 billion
• Certified tax rate adjusted from 32.61 cents to 23.1 cents per $100 of assessed valuation
• Proposed "Invest Franklin 2.0" initiative to fund infrastructure projects and enhance services
• Two tax rate scenarios presented:
• Scenario 1: 32 cents (23.1¢ base + 6.8¢ for both Mac Hatcher projects + 2.1¢ for operations)
• Scenario 2: 29 cents (23.1¢ base + 3.4¢ for Mac Hatcher Southeast only + 2.5¢ for operations)

Property tax rate scenarios and Invest Franklin 2.0

• Property tax impact for average $1.04 million home:
• Scenario 1: $231 annual increase ($0.63 per day)
• Scenario 2: $0.42 per day increase
• Mac Hatcher Southeast widening secured in TDOT's 10-year plan
• Mac Hatcher Northwest not approved for TDOT partnership funding
• Alderman Baggett requested dedicated funding language to ensure tax increase specifically funds state road partnership projects
• City needs $7.07 million to service $100 million bond over 20 years for both projects
• Current TDOT projected construction for Southeast is 2032, but city hopes to accelerate to 2027

Hotel/motel tax increase proposal

• Proposed increase from 4% to 5%, the first increase since 2004
• Estimated to generate additional revenue of approximately $1 million
• Funds would support parks, downtown improvements, and tourism-related projects
• Key projects funded include:
• Downtown parking study (split 50/50 with general fund)
• Sports lighting upgrades at Jim Warren Park
• Portable vehicle barriers for downtown events
• $50,000 contribution to Merrill Williams House project

Personnel additions and compensation plan updates

• 10 new positions added across all funds:
• 8 in general fund (7 in public safety)
• 3 on-shift firefighters
• 3 patrol police officers
• 1 victim support counselor in police department
• 1 information systems developer
• 1 sanitation operator
• 1 fiscal affairs manager for water management
• Updated compensation plan moving from 75th to 90th percentile of market competitiveness
• 2.5% general pay increase plus performance-based increases of 0.5% to 2.5%
• Health insurance premiums remain unchanged
• Deductibles increasing for first time in over 20 years:
• Single: from $500 to $650
• Family: from $1,000 to $1,300

Mac Hatcher road project funding

• Southeast Mac Hatcher widening included in TDOT's 10-year plan
• Northwest Mac Hatcher widening not approved for partnership funding
• City proposed to fund half the cost of both projects
• Alderman Baggett expressed disappointment about Northwest section not being funded
• City already owns most right-of-way for Southeast project
• Lewisburg-Mac Hatcher intersection identified as most challenging design component
• City plans to use funds to accelerate project timeline from 2032 to potentially 2027

Water and stormwater fund considerations

• Stormwater fund received $1.5 million transfer from general fund
• Fund balance has been declining for several years
• Last fee increase was in fiscal year 2022
• Cost of service study planned for fiscal year 2027 budget
• Water and wastewater fund budget of $51.2 million:
• $18.5 million for water
• $32 million for sanitary sewer/water reclamation
• $558,000 for reclaimed water system
• Water rate increase of 6% and sewer rate increase of 5% effective January 1, 2026
• Debt service of $8.4 million for plant upgrades through 2053

Procurement awards for auditing services

• Committee approved recommending Crossland PLLC for auditing services
• Five-year contract with annual amounts of $59,000, $63,000, $67,000, $72,000, and $75,000
• Separate contract approved for conference center auditing
• Crossland PLLC is the incumbent auditor
• City has 12 Certified Municipal Finance Officers on staff with 24 more in training

These are all public meetings and anyone can attend.

Election Commission

Monday May 19th

The Williamson County Election Commission will be meeting on Monday at 4:00 pm at 405 Down Blvd. Agenda

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.
• TruthWire News covers a broad spectrum of political and governmental issues, from the actions of your local school board and county commissioners to the machinations of city councils and state government officials.
• Tennessee Voters for Election Integrity is helping restore confidence in Tennessee Elections.
• 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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