Hickman County TN

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

Budget, Finance & Human Resources · Meeting · Oct 13, 2026

Tue, Oct 13, 2026

Oversees the annual budget process, departmental funding requests, and personnel policies including hiring, compensation, and benefits.

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This outline was generated by an LLM from a transcript and may contain errors or inaccuracies. Prefer the original recording when available.

Budget/finance business centered on a series of budget amendments that were all approved, including school-related amendments, county grants, ARPA carryovers, election reclassifications, and sheriff’s department revenue adjustments. The largest discussed item was a school capital-projects loan of $405,000, with clarification that the proceeds go into capital projects now but are intended to be repaid through debt service, potentially early if projects come in under budget or if the county later chooses to retire the debt.

The most consequential discussion was not a vote item but the state’s conditional budget approval letter regarding school finances. Committee members discussed a projected school budget deficit now around $3.5 million, concerns about the school system’s undesignated fund balance and cash flow, possible need for a corrective action plan for next year’s budget, and the need for earlier, more coordinated planning between the county commission and school board. Other notable threads included grants of $20,000 and $65,500, ARPA carryover for an EMS station, a 2024 HOME grant carryover, sheriff’s vehicle insurance recovery, and election-budget line shifts for the November election.

Call to Order, Roll Call, and Committee Organization

  • The meeting began with the chair calling the meeting to order, followed by roll call showing 14 members present and a quorum established.
  • The committee elected Steve Gianakos as chair by acclamation after nominations were closed.
  • The committee elected Garen Graves as vice chair by acclamation after Devin Pickard declined a nomination.
  • Finance Director Crystal Fitzgerald continued as secretary without a separate election.
  • Public comment period was opened; no one had signed up to speak.
  • The agenda was approved without controversy.
  • The previous meeting’s minutes/amendments were approved without controversy.

New Business / Agenda Items

Budget amendments

  • Budget Amendment 2717: approved school-board action from September 14 to recognize donations received and carryover tied to the mobile school bus donation.

    • Motion approved by roll-call vote; all present voted yes.

  • Budget Amendment 2718: approved school-board action from September 14 to align the ISM grant with the E-Plan budget.

    • Motion approved by roll-call vote; all present voted yes.

  • Budget Amendment 2719: budgeted loan proceeds for school capital projects in the amount of $405,000.

    • Discussion clarified this loan authority had already been approved by resolution in June.
    • Members asked whether the debt service fund would repay the loan; the response was yes, with the capital-projects fund receiving the proceeds now and debt service handling repayment.
    • Further clarification: the county would prefer to pay off the loan once projects are completed, and any unspent project proceeds would roll back toward the debt.
    • The $405,000 figure was described as an estimated project total, not a guaranteed final expenditure; actual costs could come in lower.
    • Motion approved by roll-call vote; all present voted yes.

  • Budget Amendment 2720: reclassified election-office funds to cover projected November election overruns.

    • Discussion noted remaining balances in some lines and that the printing/stationery line was being estimated at around $5,000, with some cushion because final election costs were not yet known.
    • Members confirmed the election office had approved the adjustment.
    • Motion approved by roll-call vote; all present voted yes.

  • Budget Amendment 2721: budgeted county grants and grant carryover across several departments and purposes.

    • Included a $20,000 THSO grant for the current year.
    • Included a $65,500 recruitment and retention grant for the sheriff’s department for the current year.
    • Included a health department grant adjustment with no new money, only shifts to match the grant contract.
    • Included carryover for a TDEC asset-management-plan grant for Bon Aqua Utility District as the project nears closeout.
    • Motion approved by roll-call vote; all present voted yes.

  • Budget Amendment 2722: carried over prior-year ARPA allocations.

    • Included the local matching portion for the TDEC grant.
    • Included restricted carryover for the EMS station project in the amount of $20,470.85 that had been approved previously but not yet spent.
    • Discussion emphasized this was not new money, but previously restricted money being moved into the current year.
    • Motion approved by roll-call vote; all present voted yes.

  • Budget Amendment 2723: carried over the 2024 HOME grant into the capital-projects fund for closer tracking.

    • Discussion explained the HOME program helps eligible county residents, including elderly residents whose homes may no longer be livable, with applications processed through South Central and prioritized through an eligibility/grading system.
    • Motion approved by roll-call vote; all present voted yes.

  • Budget Amendment 2724: increased the sheriff’s department budget for new revenue from insurance recovery and vehicle-storage income.

    • Included $12,300 in insurance recovery tied to sheriff’s department vehicles.
    • Included estimated storage-fund revenue of $25,000 from holding confiscated vehicles, to be used for vehicle maintenance and repairs.
    • Motion approved by roll-call vote; all present voted yes.

  • The chair added a process note for future full commission meetings: budget amendments are often grouped together for efficiency, but members were asked to flag potentially controversial items in advance so they can be separated for fuller discussion.

HR business

  • No human-resources business was presented.

Unfinished business

  • No unfinished business was taken up.

State conditional budget approval letter and school finance concerns

  • The committee reviewed the budget letter included in the packet, with focus on the state’s conditional approval tied largely to school finances.
  • Discussion explained that school expenditures had already been reduced to satisfy the state budget formula for the school general fund.
  • Finance staff said this was the first year the county had received this kind of conditional approval letter for the school system, though similar issues are affecting multiple Tennessee school systems due to expiring grants, rising costs, and enrollment decline.
  • The school system’s total fund balance was said to have come in around 10.4, versus an estimate near 10.2, but only about 5.7 of that was described as undesignated and freely usable.
  • The state’s concern was not simply total fund balance, but the smaller undesignated portion and related cash-flow capacity.
  • Cash-flow concerns were said to apply not only to schools but also to the highway department; discussion distinguished fund balance (“net worth”) from cash on hand available for payroll, utilities, and other obligations.
  • The county expects the state to require a corrective action plan with next year’s budget submission.
  • Committee members asked whether planning had already started; the response was yes:
    • The school system had reportedly reduced expenditures in August by nearly $1.4 million.
    • About 19 positions had already been eliminated.
    • Additional attrition-based reductions were being considered.
    • School leadership was also reportedly examining options such as combining schools, not as a stated desired outcome but to understand possible cost savings and community effects.
  • Members discussed how any formal corrective-action work should be handled procedurally, including whether through this committee, another committee, work sessions, or eventual full county commission approval.
  • The state was described as still developing broader recommendations, including work with committees of affected school systems across Tennessee.
  • Members compared the school issue with more routine state comments on other county funds:
    • County general and solid waste concerns were described as more typical because the county often budgets a deficit even if year-end actuals do not land there.
    • By contrast, the school concern was described as more serious because budgeted use of fund balance could reduce reserves too far.
  • The school budget shortfall was discussed in detail:
    • It had earlier been around $5 million.
    • After a budget amendment reducing about $1.5 million, the budgeted deficit was said to be about $3.5 million.
    • That level was said to place the system around the 6% to 8% range by year-end.
    • If cash weakens further, the county may have to use a tax anticipation note or other short-term borrowing/transfer mechanism until tax revenues arrive.
  • Members stressed that the issue should be addressed well before spring budget season rather than waiting until April or May.
  • Several commissioners urged more active communication and joint planning between the county commission and school board.
    • Suggestions included a retreat, work session, or public meeting with the school board and county commission together.
    • The justification offered was both substantive and relational: better budgeting decisions, earlier coordination, and better public confidence that county bodies are working together rather than in conflict.
  • Broader budget pressure was also discussed countywide:
    • Members warned that all departments may need to tighten spending.
    • One comment referenced a school-side plan aimed at saving $4 million.
    • Members also cautioned against squeezing budgets so tightly that rising fuel or utility costs cannot be absorbed.

Announcements

  • A member of the public appeared expecting a different meeting and was advised that this committee was handling budget matters; no public budget comment was offered.
  • The chair indicated follow-up conversation could occur after adjournment.

Adjournment

  • The committee adjourned by motion and second, approved by voice vote.

Key figures and statistics

Figure Type Context / topic
14 Headcount Members present at roll call; quorum established
2717 Budget amendment number School donations and mobile school bus donation carryover
September 14 Date School board approval date for Budget Amendments 2717 and 2718
2718 Budget amendment number ISM grant aligned with E-Plan budget
2719 Budget amendment number School capital-projects loan proceeds
$405,000 Debt / loan Loan proceeds budgeted for school capital projects
June Date Prior county resolution approving the school loan
Page 18 Document reference Location in packet where project list/resolution details were cited
2720 Budget amendment number Election-office reclassification for November election
November Date / event Election being covered by fund reclassification
349 Budget line / account reference Election-office line discussed as part of remaining balances
355 Budget line / account reference Election-office line discussed as part of remaining balances
351 Budget line / account reference Election-office line discussed as part of remaining balances
193 Budget line / account reference Election-office line said to still have sufficient funds
$5,000 Expense estimate Printing and stationery estimate for election costs
2721 Budget amendment number County grants and grant carryover
$20,000 Grant revenue THSO grant for the current year
$65,500 Grant revenue Sheriff’s recruitment and retention grant
2722 Budget amendment number ARPA carryover
$20,470.85 Carryover / restricted funds Unused carryover for EMS station project
2723 Budget amendment number 2024 HOME grant carryover
2024 Year HOME grant carryover year
2724 Budget amendment number Sheriff’s insurance recovery and storage-fund revenue
$12,300 Insurance recovery Vehicle-related insurance proceeds for sheriff’s department
$25,000 Revenue estimate Sheriff’s storage-fund income from confiscated vehicles
10.4 Fund balance ratio/measure School system fund balance actual result
10.2 Fund balance ratio/measure Approximate school fund balance estimate
5.7 Fund balance ratio/measure Approximate undesignated portion of school fund balance
$1.4 million Budget reduction Approximate school expenditure reductions made in August
19 Positions School positions reportedly already eliminated
$3 million Deficit estimate Approximate school shortfall discussed before refinement
$3.5 million Budget deficit Approximate current budgeted school deficit
$5 million Prior deficit estimate Earlier school deficit level before reductions
$1.5 million Budget reduction Approximate amendment reduction that lowered projected deficit
6% to 8% Percentage range Expected school reserve/fund-balance position by year-end
April or May Time period Months members said would be too late to begin major budget discussions
$4 million Savings target Referenced plan to save money from the school budget
Fourth Monday Schedule reference Regular meeting date mentioned to mistaken attendee

External vendors, brands, and software

Name Type Context / topic
E-Plan Software School ISM grant budget alignment in Budget Amendment 2718
THSO Company Current-year grant of $20,000 included in Budget Amendment 2721
TDEC Company Asset management plan grant for Bon Aqua Utility District; also ARPA matching carryover
South Central Company HOME grant applications and eligibility processing for housing assistance

Personnel changes

Name Role / office Change Context / topic
Steve Gianakos Chair, Budget, Finance & Human Resources Committee Appointed Elected committee chair by acclamation
Garen Graves Vice Chair, Budget, Finance & Human Resources Committee Appointed Elected vice chair by acclamation after Devin Pickard declined nomination

Laws and policies

Citation / name Level Type Context / topic
ARPA Federal Law Prior-year restricted funds carried forward, including EMS station and grant-match allocations
HOME grant Federal Program / Policy Housing-rehabilitation assistance for eligible residents, carried over into capital projects for tracking