The Jackson City Council approved four proposed budget amendments – First Reading; approved eight proposed budget amendments – Second Reading – during its monthly meeting at City Hall, Tuesday.
“Today was a very substantial City Council meeting,” said council member Paul Taylor, “Another topic of discussion was the acquisition of approximately 38 acres off Highway 223 for industrial development, and that was approved on a First Reading.”
The site, which is served by a railroad line, is located off Highway 223 in Jackson. It had been selected to join the Select Tennessee Certified Sites program, which has helped communities prepare industrial sites for private investment and job creation since 2012, according to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
Sites in the program are used to attract businesses to the state. Companies have invested nearly $2 billion in projects located on certified sites, which accounts for over 7,700 job commitments, according to the Tennessee Economic and Community Development.
“We’ll have a Second Reading on that on Thursday of this week at 9 a.m.,” Taylor said, “The final item, which had the most discussion today, was the American Rescue Plan Act and our preliminary spend plan on that.”
Funds for the American Rescue Plan Act total $6,946,725 in the first distribution.
“We had discussion on what qualifies a lot of communities are doing with this right now, so we are still working through qualifications on the preliminary spend plan which will be a wise move, so we can go ahead and start spending on some of these issues we have that we have deferred,” Taylor said, “Primarily, issues revolving around our fire department and police department – making sure they are funded appropriately.
“In addition to the needed funding for the police, fire and IT infrastructure, we are preparing to allocate dollars toward community support, social services and the improvement of our parks.”
Taylor said he has requested the Mayor’s Office provide narratives for each expense so the Council can ensure these uses align with the Treasury Department’s current guidance ‘before we issue a contract or purchase order.”
(PHOTO: Paul Taylor)
