Rutherford County manager presents budget that keeps tax rate steady and recommends 4% COLA

County Manager Harrison presented the county’s proposed budget at a standing board workshop, saying the plan balances services and personnel pressures without increasing the property-tax rate.

“We did not ask for a tax increase,” Harrison said, adding the recommendation to maintain the current rate at 45.4 and to appropriate $2,431,718 from fund balance to balance the plan. He listed a general‑fund total of $80,826,507 and a total-all-funds package of $107,510,000, with an operating-budget increase of about 4.283%.

Harrison told commissioners the budget includes a 4% cost-of-living adjustment, a level consistent with regional practice to remain competitive for staff in public safety, building inspections, social services and other county positions. “That’s pretty much the standard we’re seeing all across the state,” he said.

The manager flagged continuing pressures on sales-tax receipts and allocations to municipal governments and fire departments, which he said reduced the county’s sales‑tax share from the low‑80s percent range down to roughly 76% (potentially 74%). Those changes, he said, constrain funds available for education and other county services.

The proposal includes recommended appropriations to education and capital: Harrison cited a proposed college allocation of $3,026,755, school‑system funding of $17,368,689 and $1,000,000 in capital operations for the schools. He also said debt service has declined in recent years, improving capacity for future projects.

Commissioners asked for line‑item clarifications across multiple departments. They pressed staff on increases in workers’ compensation and vehicle‑insurance costs, higher expenses for youth detention driven in part by state policy changes, and enterprise pressures in the solid‑waste program. Staff explained those increases were driven by wage and replacement‑cost trends, regulatory requirements and higher operating costs.

Chair (S1) said the board was satisfied with the presentation and directed staff to prepare the ordinance for the formal budget hearing at the June meeting. Harrison said staff will prepare the budget as presented but remain ready to adjust details if the board requests changes before adoption.

What happens next: staff will prepare the budget ordinance for the June commissioner meeting and present any requested clarifications; the board did not add a tax‑rate increase to the proposal and scheduled the formal hearing process to continue the review.