Water/Sewer Moving Toward Advanced Metering
After deciding to move forward with advanced metering infrastructure for the Cookeville Energy Department, the city will implement the new automated meters for the Water Department as well. Cookeville Water and Sewer Quality Control Director Barry Turner said 40 meters have been installed to test the system and it is going well. Cookeville City Council […]
Cravens: Schools, Commissioners Understand Fiscal Issues
Putnam County School Board Chair Kim Cravens said she believes the school board and county commissioners are on the same page about upcoming educational needs in the county. The two bodies discussed both the upcoming fiscal year budget during a meeting last week and more long-term issues. Cravens said the meeting helped create a mutual […]
Employee Pay Major Factor In Overton Budget Plans
Overton County Executive Steven Barlow has employee cost of living on his mind as the county’s budget process begins. Barlow said Overton County Commissioners will have some big decisions to make in June as they finalize the budget. He said the county has not raised taxes in a decade, but prices have skyrocketed since then. […]
Water & Sewer Rate Hikes Included In Proposed Budget
Cookeville’s Water Quality Control Department proposing water and sewer rate increases in its 2025 budget. Water Quality Control Director Barry Turner said the increase is due to a spike in chemical costs. He said the price for chemicals was more than $1 million in 2023, a nearly 50 percent increase from 2022. “I know it’s […]
Cookeville Energy Adding Advanced Metering Infrastructure
The Cookeville Energy Department plans to install advanced metering infrastructure for utilities during the upcoming fiscal year. Cookeville Energy Department Director Carl Haney told city council he has budgeted some $900,000 for electric and gas meters. He said he plans to have some 7,200 meters installed this fiscal year. He said gas meters are easier […]
Cookeville Proposed Budget: No Property Tax Change
Cookeville’s proposed budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year includes no change to property taxes and raises for all city employees. City Council got its first look at the budget Wednesday during the first of two days of work sessions. The proposed budget keeps property tax at 92 cents. Cookeville City Manager James Mills said he […]
Overton Gets Good News On Ambulance, Monroe Building Bids
The Overton County Budget Committee approved bids for two ambulances and the construction of the Monroe Community Center at its Tuesday meeting. Overton County Executive Steven Barlow said this meeting was designed to open bids for expensive projects to see if those projects are feasible before department heads present proposed budgets for the new fiscal […]
Raises, New Positions In Putnam Schools Budget
Putnam County Schools certified staff will get a $1,500 raise in the new fiscal year under the system’s new budget. The School Board approved the new budget’s first draft Thursday night. Director of Schools Corby King said the budget aligns with the district’s five-year strategic plan that was instituted in 2023. He said it also […]
Putnam Begins Budgeting; Step Raises Biggest Increase
Putnam County began its budgeting process Monday night and planned meetings with department heads to discuss increased funding requests. Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter presented a proposed budget to the budget committee that includes an increase in county general expenditures of some $2.8 million from last year. He said some $1 million of that comes […]
Van Buren Schools Faculty, Staff Get Raises In Budget
The Van Buren County School Board passed its fiscal year budget Wednesday night that includes a $2,000 raise for teachers and a $1,200 raise for hourly staff. Director of Schools Jared Copeland said the teacher salary increase would put the minimum salary at some $45,600 for fiscal year 2025. He said the raise bumps teacher […]
