The Metro Utility Department’s budget was the main topic of May’s board meeting. The 2026-2027 budget sees few changes from this year’s budget other than allowing for rising costs of business. Last year’s projections for the 2025-2026 budget were on target, with revenues being slightly higher than projected.

    That being the case, Glen Thomas made a motion to cut sewer rates once again. He had proposed this earlier in this budget year, but the board held to the current rates for the remainder of the year. The proposed rate cut is another $2 reduction, taking the rate from $20.89 per thousand gallons to $18.89 per thousand gallons for residential customers. Extrapolating that rate, revenues would still come in just over the projected figure for the 2026-2027 budget. Daryl Richards seconded the motion and the vote passed unanimously, with board member Greg Guinn absent.

    The board voted to go forward with the purchase of just over one acre of land adjacent to the water plant. The land owner, Alexandra Richardson, Chief Operating Officer of the Cumberland Springs Land Company, has agreed to accept the offer of $21,000, provided that the utility pay for the survey fees and closing costs. The board agreed, and will pay for the land from savings. The land is being purchased for an eventual expansion of the water plant. Though there is no immediate plan for expansion, there is no room to expand on the present site. Purchasing the land now while it is available will undoubtably save money in the future, as it will allow expansion of the present site rather than having to move and build from the ground up.

    Thomas also recommended that expenditures on future large projects, the Turkey Creek Loop extension, the Highway 82 and County Line expansions, be tracked on separate spreadsheets to make those expenditures easier to follow, rather than adding them in to day-to-day operating expenses. He also recommended that those projects be paid from savings.

    The hour and a half meeting did not adjourn, but recessed until 8:00 am on Friday following the Tuesday meeting to continue budget discussions.