Sumner County Schools still seeking new, increased budget as start of school year approaches

GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — Students will soon return to school in Sumner County, but the district has still not yet set a budget for the new year.

School leaders said that they need more money, but county commissioners keep refusing. Sumner County Schools and county commissioners are $5.4 million apart on budget talks.

The district told News 2 that the money, which would come from capital funds, would be directed towards staff pay raises and upgrades to athletic facilities.

The decision now falls into the hands of Sumner County’s Commission as deadlines approach.

“It’s something that we should be able to get done,” said Scott Langford, Sumner County’s Director of Schools. “We’re really close … I think that there are enough people of good will that want to get things done that we will band together.”

The third budget proposal, which Sumner County’s school board approved 9-1, would give the district their requested $5.4 million. However, it would be a one-time deal; the district could not expect the funding boost to be recurring.

“Sometimes you have to stick a hand across the aisle and shake hands, instead of trying to prolong a battle and a fight. Because at the end of the day, we want to do what’s best for our kids, our employees, and our community,” Langford added.

The proposal needs 13 votes from the Sumner County Commission to pass. While some Sumner County school board members are skeptical about reaching that mark, Langford is confident that it would happen.

But what would happen if the budget isn’t approved?

“We would be delayed a year if we don’t get these athletic facilities approved,” Langford said. “I think we would then begin working as hard as we could to salvage everything we could to make sure our employees get the raises that they deserve.”

If a new budget is not in place by September 1, the district would revert back to last year’s budget — meaning that no staff would receive a raise across the entire county, according to Langford.

A special county commission meeting on this discussion is set for Monday, August 12.

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