Dickson city’s proposed $25.4M budget: No tax hike, Park/Ride bus and downtown projects
The proposed $25.4 million budget for the City of Dickson in fiscal year 2020-2021 was presented to the city council Monday without a tax increase.
Among the items of note in the proposed budget, which uses $654,000 from the city’s projected $17.2 million in reserves, include Phase V construction in Downtown Dickson Revitalization Project; design and construction of a downtown skate park; construction of a Park and Ride facility; and site prep for Dickson Fire Department Station No. 3.
The budget proposal includes:
- Construction of the parking lot at the corner of East College and Church streets ($450,000 funded in a 2019 loan);
- Replacement of the storm drain system from East Railroad Street to College Street ($250,000 funded in a 2019 loan);
- Design for a splash pad/playground at Henslee Park ($55,375 funded in a 2019 loan);
- Construction of Phase V of the Downtown Revitalization Project on North Mulberry Street ($500,000 with $400,000 to be reimbursed by a Transportation Alternative Program grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation);
- Design and construction of a skate park ($300,000 funded in a 2019 loan);
- Design for Phase I of improvements at J. Dan Buckner Park ($60,000 funded in a 2019 loan);
- A road project to improve access from Highway 46 to Gum Branch Road ($2,989,516 remaining in a 2016 loan for road projects connected to the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Traffic System Management project on Highway 46);
- Site preparation for Dickson Fire Department Station #3 at the corner of Highway 70 East and Ridgecrest Drive ($82,000 funded in a 2019 loan);
- A 2 percent cost-of-living-adjustment for city employees;
- A down payment for 30 self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) with masks and bottles for the Dickson Fire Department financed for three years ($44,000);
- A governor’s grant for infrastructure improvements to be used for paving streets ($373,893);
- Replacement of the storm drain from East College Street to Rickert Avenue along Sylvis and Poplar streets ($450,000);
- Purchase of garbage cart containers ($8,500);
- Equipment for park rangers ($6,000);
- A timing synchronization project for traffic lights on Highway 70/Henslee Drive and Beasley Drive under a Community Transportation Planning Grant ($40,000 for the city’s share of a $125,000 state-managed project);
- Construction and installation of new traffic signals at the Henslee Drive entrance to Dickson County High School, Highway 70 East at Hummingbird Lane and Highway 46 at Crestview Drive under a Surface Transportation Block Grant ($950,000 with $760,000 to be reimbursed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation);
- Sidewalk improvements/construction ($55,000);
- Construction of a Park and Ride facility on Crestview Drive for the Dickson 88X Express bus service in a project shared with Dickson County ($160,000);
- Operational funds for the Dickson County Library and Lifelong Learning Center ($15,000);
- Operational funds for the Dickson County Municipal Airport ($55,000);
- A contribution to the visitors’ center at the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum ($10,000);
- Operational funds for the Dickson County Chamber ($50,000);
- Purchase of two Ford Explorers from the Tennessee Department of Safety Drug Fund for the Dickson Police Department ($73,600);
- Purchase of equipment for the Explorers from the Tennessee Department of Safety Drug Fund ($20,769);
- Purchase of equipment such as TASERS, vests and cameras from the Tennessee Department of Safety Drug Fund for police officers ($25,000);
- Purchase of a Chevrolet Tahoe from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Drug Fund for the Dickson Police Department ($35,000);
- Purchase of equipment for the Tahoe from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Drug Fund ($8,000); and
- Purchase of a tractor and mower from State Street Aid funds for the Public Works Department ($125,000).
Requests not in current budget
In addition to the budgeted purchases, Wesson presented a list of capital projects and purchases requested by city departments that are not included in the budget draft.
Weiss said the additional capital requests would require another $1.347 million to be spent from the city’s fund balance. Wesson said if revenues and expenditures remain flat for 2020-21 he projects the city will still have a $15.2 million fund balance after the additional projects, which he said is $9 million above the state Comptroller’s recommendation.
Weiss said he will recommend the city include the additional projects in the budget when the council votes on first reading at its June 1 meeting.
Those capital requests include:
- Additional funds for paving ($626,107 to bring the total allocated for paving to $1 million);
- Design of Dickson Fire Department Station #3 ($180,000);
- A School Resource Officer Detective ($70,000);
- Repairs to the swimming pool at J. Dan Buckner Park that will be required before the pool can open for the 2021 season ($145,000);
- A sanitation truck for the Public Works Department ($250,000);
- Funds for remodeling/renovations at the Dickson Police Department ($50,000); and
- A front-deck mower for the Public Works Department ($26,000).
A public hearing and second reading on the budget will be scheduled for a special council meeting to be held after the Finance and Management Committee meeting set for June 15.