The Cookeville City Council approved the final $244 million annual budget for the city’s new fiscal year.
Cookeville Mayor Laurin Wheaton said the city budget serves as an outline for everything the municipal government is responsible for. Wheaton said the budget sets the blueprint and constraints of what is possible of local government.
“This is our job, is to take care of the city of Cookeville and you do that by taking care of your budget,” Wheaton said. “And y’all have done a great job and it’s also because of our department heads and our city manager. So, if you ever have questions about what we’re doing and why we can or cannot do certain things, it’s in the budget.”
Finance Director Jenni Nisewander said the new budget does not include a property tax increase, barring a slight penny round-up.
“We still don’t have the certified tax rate, but we have not proposed property tax increase other than to round up to the nearest cent,” Nisewander said. “Property taxes will be allocated to various funds the same as it has been this last fiscal year with the new certified rate rounded.”
Nisewander said the city-wide spending plan covers all departments and funds for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1. Nisewander said the General Fund specifically includes approximately $40.9 million in revenues and $45.3 million in expenditures, with a projected year-end fund balance of $34.4 million.
“This is the most important thing we do on council, I think, is to pass our budget,” Council Member Eric Walker said. “It sets up the entire year for projects and what we’re going to do and after eight years of doing this, I’m actually really proud to have been a part of it and get everything that we have got accomplished.”
The budget includes $1,051,055 in funding for various government public service partners and non-profit organizations. Nisewander said $876,055 of that total is allocated to joint ventures and governmental partners, while $160,000 is designated for charitable non-profits.
“I’m excited to see where Cookeville’s headed,” Walker said. “So if anybody wants to know where we’re headed, you can find it in this budget. It says a lot to all the hard work that the city employees, the staff are doing for our great city.”
In addition to the municipal budget, the council approved the fiscal year 2027 budget for Cookeville Regional Medical Center with no changes. Nisewander said the hospital budget includes $558.9 million in revenues and $536.9 million in expenditures, along with $59.9 million earmarked for expansion projects.
The council also authorized a resolution to reimburse up to $10 million in expenditures for several capital projects through future debt issuance. Nisewander said the city intends to issue bonds this fall to finance improvements at 39 Depot, the East-West connector and a fire-training facility.
