Education and transportation central to Nashville mayor’s new spending plan

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell has filed his capital spending plan for next year, and it includes large amounts for schools and transportation.

The total cost is $544 million — a  $12 million increase from last year’s plan.

“The Capital Spending Plan isn’t just about investing in projects, it’s a commitment to how we grow as a city in a way that lets Nashvillians know they are cared for with basic city services and prioritized through key neighborhood investments,” O’Connell said. “As Nashville continues to grow, we’re upgrading our infrastructure across the city, so no community is left behind, and every resident has access to safe streets, good schools, and reliable services.”

The plan’s top expenditures are for public facilities and service vehicles. Part of that $202 million will replace 45 heavy fleet vehicles for Fire, NDOT, Waste Services, the Sheriff’s Department and Metro Action Commission. The mayor is also directing $5 million towards MAC Head Start facilities, which provide early education to low-income families.

Metro Schools is next on the priority list with $107.4 million in funding. The planned projects include construction, additions, and renovations at Antioch Cluster elementary schools, Nashville School for the Arts, Amqui, Neely’s Bend, and the stadium for Hume-Fogg and Martin Luther King high schools. Other school district funding will cover maintenance projects, safety and security improvements, and replacing school buses.

Significant amounts will also go towards libraries, fire stations, housing, and parks.

• $14.3 million for Nashville’s parks includes $4.6 million to complete the Cumberland River and Seven Mile Creek greenways. Another $6.4 million will support general park and amenity improvements, and $3 million will go toward greenway and boardwalk upgrades. 
• $8 million is designated for housing — specifically to cover the infrastructure needs of the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) regarding a revitalization plan for Napier Place, Sudekum Apartments and the surrounding area.
• $20 million for Metro Water will focus on stormwater system engineering, construction, and maintenance. 
• $44 million will support the fire department’s three new fire stations, as well as upgrades to other stations. 
• $2.7 million will go to Nashville’s libraries, including the new Richland Park Branch Library and maintenance for other city libraries.
• $86.3 million for the Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT) will upgrade local roads and bridges and improve safety.
• $12.5 million will fund WeGo for Access Ride and bus replacements. 

“This is a disciplined capital spending plan built on a foundation of fiscal responsibility,” said Department of Finance Director Jenneen Reed. “By protecting and maintaining Nashville’s exceptionally strong credit ratings, we’re able to secure lower interest rates on our municipal debt, and those direct savings reduce the long-term cost of borrowing, ensuring we maximize every taxpayer dollar to safely fund the city’s essential infrastructure needs.”

The plan is subject to Metro Council approval and will be up for first consideration at the council’s Oct. 5 meeting.