Scaled-back library, Stokes Field, Wings of Liberty part of Montgomery County's proposed budget

Jimmy Settle, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle
·5 min read

That new north Clarksville public library branch? It's currently looking closer to reality, but as a scaled-back version from what was originally proposed.

And what about that new north Clarksville Little League baseball-softball complex at Stokes Field? It, too, could get funded soon — but it will also get a lot less money for now, than originally projected.

Those are just two highlights of the proposed capital projects budget preliminarily hammered out by County Mayor Jim Durrett and the county Budget Committee, consisting of Commissioners John Gannon, Larry Rocconi, Rashidah Leverett and James Lewis.

The Montgomery County Commission's Budget Committee goes over the numbers in a recent session at the courthouse
The Montgomery County Commission's Budget Committee goes over the numbers in a recent session at the courthouse

When they take the budget to the full commission for the first time late Wednesday afternoon in a non-voting, introductory roundtable discussion, the bottom line for many of those in the legislative body may be this:

No change is proposed in the county's current property tax rate of $2.99 per $100 assessed valued, for 2022-23. A season of cutting, slashing and prioritizing some key components has gotten the Budget Committee to this point.

Commissioners will be presented a nearly $347 million general purpose fund budget for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS), plus close to $117 million in proposed county general spending — the latter of which commissioners are authorized to control by line item.

That's just the local property taxpayers' portion of the budget. There are other categories to consider, especially under CMCSS, but they come under other revenue sources, at varying levels of government.

When it comes to CMCSS budgeting overall, only the school board, and not the commission, has line item spending authority, although the commission is the final funding authority.

Capital projects

Originally, the satellite library branch off Jordan Road, and the major Stokes Field improvements, were each proposed to receive identical totals of $16.5 million.

But with so much departmental spending on the table to consider, and limited funds to go around, Durrett and the Budget Committee declined to give that much money to either project.

Local Library Director Martha Hendricks, right, makes another pitch for funding the north Clarksville satellite branch as Larry Rocconi, left, of the Budget Committee, and County Engineer Nick Powell seated next to her, both listen.
Local Library Director Martha Hendricks, right, makes another pitch for funding the north Clarksville satellite branch as Larry Rocconi, left, of the Budget Committee, and County Engineer Nick Powell seated next to her, both listen.

Instead, $10 million for professional services is proposed for the new library in the coming fiscal year, while Stokes Field would get $8 million for construction.

A total of $7 million has been allocated for right-of-way and utility relocation for a portion of the ongoing Rossview Road widening project.

Various capital projects, requested of the county by CMCSS, get another $3.5 million under this budget, while improvements to Charles Bell Road, requested by the county Highway Department, get $2.7 million for right-of-way acquisition, plus $715,000 for professional services.

A new restroom facility at Rotary Park could be funded at $1.6 million.

New Clarksville budget: Transportation tops priorities, but what's actually being funded?

Also at $1.6 million, the Highway Department is seeking to make improvements to River Road.

Highway officials also want to spend $1.5 million on improving the intersection at Dunlop and Rollow Lanes.

The Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Airport Authority gets $1.5 million as the county's portion of combined local government allocations for improvements being made at Outlaw Field.

And, the long-planned Fort Campbell Wings of Liberty Historical Museum, honoring the military installation and its tenant units led by the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), appears to be back on the front burner after delays.

The county and City of Clarksville are each proposing to allocate $1 million toward the estimated $28 million needed to build Fort Campbell's public museum.

"The group raising money for the museum approached the city and county several months ago and asked us to include funding in our fiscal 2023 budgets, if they secured $20 million from the state," Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts said.

Durrett concurred with Pitts, voicing his administration's desire to also be involved with Wings of Liberty.

And in a separate, joint announcement, 22nd District State Sen. Bill Powers (R-Clarksville), and state House Deputy Speaker Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville) said the $20 million from the state for the Fort Campbell historical museum is, in fact, secured.

Durrett and Pitts, as part of their agreements, are proposing three-year clawback provisions with the county and city appropriations for Wings of Liberty, which require that construction either be under way during that period, or the local governments be refunded.

"I am excited about the project and believe it will be a major attraction for our community," Pitts added.

Some other proposed county appropriations under capital projects include these:

► $750,000 for professional services for a new animal shelter for Montgomery County Animal Care & Control

► $610,000 for professional services for a new county Highway Department office facility, plus $110,000 for other renovations to the department's property

► $550,000 for renovations to South Guthrie county facilities

► $360,000 for land acquisition for a new community center for Lone Oak, plus $160,000 for community center renovations

► $250,000 for professional services, for renovations to Department of Human Services offices in Veterans Plaza

► $200,000 for construction on Lafayette Road

► $170,000 for server blade replacement work for the county's Information Technology Department, plus a combined $350,000 for other county IT work

► $110,000 for renovations to the County Clerk's offices

► $100,000 for battery-powered hydraulic rescue tools for the county's Volunteer Fire Service

► $60,000 for a new truck for the Emergency Management Agency

► $60,000 for adding pump service to existing tankers for the county's Volunteer Fire Service

► $60,000 for professional services for renovation of the Montgomery County Courts Center

► $50,000 for rejuvenation of concrete at the historic courthouse

► $30,000 for professional services for development of the Courts Center Annex

Reach Jimmy Settle at jimmysettle@theleafchronicle.com or 931-245-0247. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to TheLeafChronicle.com.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: New Clarksville library, Stokes Field complex on proposed budget