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FEBRUARY 29, 2024 | VOLUME 36 | NUMBER 8
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Hagerty rails against migrant ‘invasion’ after trip to southern border BY MATT MASTERS
Mayor Freddie O’Connell
PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS
Metro Council passes mayor’s capital spending plan BY NICOLLE S. PRAINO
The Metro Council meeting on Tuesday unanimously passed Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s first capital spending plan, a funding package valued at about $514 million. “This plan was created with fiscal responsibility at its core and ensures no new pressure on debt as a share of our operating costs,” O’Connell said in a press release on Wednesday sharing his appreciation for council passage and support. The plan is a wish list of projects for which the Metro Council will have final say. O’Connell’s list includes some projects that have been considered in past spending plans. Before the council approved the capital spending plan, the budget and finance committee unanimously passed the package at a meeting on Feb. 5. The Metro Finance Department presented to committee members a breakdown of the plan. This
explained that the actual net total investment of the plan is $500 million. That takes into account the deauthorization of $14 million for projects identified by Metro departments. Metro Finance Budget Officer Aaron Pratt explained that both Finance and Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) both had projects related to tornado and wind events that were closed out with less spending than forecasted, which allowed the deauthorization amount in the CSP. The capital spending plan’s $514 million is 13.55 percent of the city’s total general expenses and below a 14 percent threshold set for Metro. The finance department presentation noted the plan adds 7,150 linear feet, or 1.35 miles, of sidewalks and also helps to maintain 225 miles of lane paving for Metro roads. In addition, the finance presentation broke down the
percentage of funding for each department in the plan. MNPS will receive the largest percentage of CSP funding at 20.6 percent for a total of $105 million. Nashville Department of Transportation will receive the second largest amount of funding at 18.4 percent. Along the same lines of transportation, the Metro Transit Authority will receive 6 percent of CSP funding. Transportation items overall will see more than $125 million in CSP funds. “By prioritizing schools, transportation infrastructure, WeGo public transit service, maintenance in parks and libraries, and customer service we are delivering on the priorities identified by the community and their council representatives,” O’Connell said in the release. “We are investing in our most important asset — our people — and I’m proud to take this important >> PAGE 2
Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty defended his decision to vote no on a bipartisan border bill in a press conference Wednesday. The Nashville event followed Hagerty’s recent trip to the U.S.-Mexico border with several Tennessee law enforcement officials and mayors. Among those joining Hagerty in Eagle Pass, Texas, and again Wednesday included Wilson County Sheriff Robert Bryan, Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy, Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby and 12th Judicial District Attorney General Courtney Lynch. The trip came days after Hagerty joined fellow U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn in voting against a bipartisan border bill that could have radically changed border security and immigration policy — a bill that former President Donald Trump pushed GOP lawmakers to vote against. Also in February, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee traveled to the border alongside several other GOP governors to call for “immediate action.” When asked if their opinions on the border crisis had been influenced by the trip, the local law enforcement and government officials said their views on the issue had in fact been reinforced. “It’s definitely strengthened our opinion,” said Sullivan County Sheriff Cassidy on Wednesday. “We’ve already seen the funneling of fentanyl and drugs and cartels, gangs, and just to be on that border, feet on the ground, it strengthened what we already knew.” “I’m tired of getting calls everyday about somebody overdosing on fentanyl, and it’s sad,” Wilson County Sheriff Bryan added. “It’s strengthened my >> PAGE 3
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