Community Education Asks for More Money

The Metro organization that provides adult education classes has asked for a $50,000 increase in order to hire a director.

In this lean budget year, almost no other Metro departments have asked Council members for more money. But Councilman Jason Holleman says Community Education Alliance needs an executive director.

“These are programs that can generate revenue for the Metropolitan Government and we believe with the right management, we can actually, probably pay for that investment in that position and more with additional revenues that come in through fees generated by classes.”

Holleman led a task force that oversaw the restructuring of the organization. It used to be partly governed by Metro Schools and Metro Parks, which had led to some confusing management decisions.

Holleman will file a bill withing the next week to establish the organization. The Alliance will become its own entity and function more like a regular Metro department.

The Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools had its budget hearing last night as well. Schools account for over a third of the city’s budget at $620 million. The Mayor’s office proposed funding schools at the same level as last year, meaning the organization had to cut $15 million from its budget to keep the same level of required services. It will cut over 200 positions, including 66 support and custodial staff.