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Hello, Neighbor!
Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a new one, you know Lawrence County, Tennessee is a great place to be. Our 618 square miles offer city and country living, beautiful forests, open spaces, creeks for paddling and fishing, and a piece of history around every corner. We have award-winning schools, a thriving business community, and residents willing to give their hearts and hands to improve others’ lives. Lawrence County Government is here to provide services that will help you live your best life. Explore our website to learn more about this community and how Lawrence County Government can assist you.
BUDGET SEASON: My favorite time of the year!
by David Morgan, Lawrence County Executive
After weeks of planning, collaboration, and number-crunching, Lawrence County’s 2025-26 budget is ready for consideration by the County Commission in a June 30 Special Session.
The budget represents the combined efforts of my office, our Budget Director, Department Heads, and members of the Commission Budget Committee, who spent countless hours reviewing priorities, needs, and opportunities for the coming year. I believe we crafted a responsible, forward-thinking financial plan that provides essential services, invests in our future, and reflects the values of the people of Lawrence County.
Our plan also sustains a very healthy bottom line, even with new expenditures introduced this year. We are maintaining a fund balance that would cover 40% of annual expenditures, when counties are recommended to keep only 16% on hand. What I’m most proud of about this year’s proposed budget is that we have done it all without a tax increase.
COUNTY PROBATION
The budget includes a new county probation service at an annual cost of approximately $200,000. The State of Tennessee has a probation office here to serve people charged with felonies. Misdemeanor cases have been handled for several years by a local business, Probation Services of Tennessee, and county probation will take over this work.
Several counties across the country have lost class-action lawsuits because they used private probation services, including our neighbor Giles County. The suits claim their tactics are illegal, because profit comes from probation fees charged to the most impoverished residents.
Giles County paid out $2 million from its fund balance and is still paying in other ways. Judges cannot put anyone guilty of a misdemeanor on probation – they must choose either jail time or community service. While judges can still levy fines according to state law, Giles County cannot collect misdemeanor costs and fines, even by way of a payment plan, for anyone incapable of paying it at the time of their misdemeanor guilty verdict. Because our courts handle many more misdemeanor cases than Giles, a similar suit would be more devastating for us.
We have had a good working relationship with Probation Services of Tennessee, but cannot risk the county’s financial health. Our probation office will put a priority on collecting court costs and fees, so we expect at least part of the expense to be covered. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” definitely applies in this situation.
LAWRENCE COUNTY FIRE & RESCUE, SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, EMS
The most important function of county government is to ensure citizens’ safety. Since my first weeks in office, I have worked very hard to make sure we listen to First Responders’ concerns, and fund those agencies appropriately. We receive an exponential return on every dollar we invest in those employees, volunteers, and the equipment and vehicles they use.
Thanks to sound financial practices – underestimating revenue and overestimating expenses – we have had funds remaining at the end of the last two fiscal years for additional support to Lawrence County Fire & Rescue (LCFR). This organization is made up of our 13 Volunteer Fire Departments, which respond to emergencies affecting life and property across the county.
This year we are proposing to give LCFR $412,500 from our 2024-25 balance, and add a donation in the new fiscal year to bring the total to just over $1 million. Last year we were able to make a similar contribution.
With our investment in operations, volunteer firemen can dedicate more time to training and serving, and less time to department fundraising. To retain and acquire volunteers, we have to honor the time they are giving us away from their jobs and families.
LCFR also hired a part-time administrative staff person who ensures mandatory reports are filed on time, volunteers take all state-required training, equipment and vehicles pass inspections, and monthly accounts are accurate. LCFR also pays an accountant outside the organization to do monthly audits. These and annual audits by the state Comptroller’s office ensure all funds are handled correctly.
Having all this information up-to-date and accessible gives LCFR an advantage when it comes to grants. County Fire Director Tyler McDow says this is one reason our volunteer fire departments have won about $1 million in equipment funding over the past two years.
A proposal is on the table that would shift supervision of the Animal Shelter operation from the City of Lawrenceburg to the Sheriff’s Department. That’s appropriate because the majority of dogs at the Shelter are from outside Lawrenceburg’s city limits. The Sheriff would add a trained Animal Control Officer to his payroll and purchase tools and a vehicle to handle and transport dogs. Today, deputies who are not specifically trained or equipped for animal control must leave other duties to answer dog-related calls.
The new budget continues funding for a fifth ambulance which is staffed to run 24 hours a day. That addition was approved at the Commission’s January 2024 session and brought the number of ambulances on the road to five, just over the one-per-10,000-resident standard. Lawrence County increased its ambulances from three to four in 2012. Our population has increased since then by about 5,000 and EMS call volume by 28%.
MAINTENANCE
Our Maintenance Department is responsible for 18 buildings, handling jobs that range from HVAC to remodeling. They do great work (have you seen the clean Courthouse clock tower?) that saves Lawrence County money every day. This year we are adding a part-time housekeeping position and dedicating additional funds to pay for energy efficiency projects, including LED lighting. This was inspired by the Lawrence County School System’s energy savings program, which made its buildings more comfortable and continues to reap great cost savings.
LAWRENCE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM
The school system always receives a set percentage of sales tax revenue, but this year we are proposing to increase the amount we guarantee they’ll receive by $495,000 annually. Thanks to good collections, the system has been receiving that much (and more) additional revenue for several years, but now they can count on those funds and budget accordingly.
With that guarantee, the system will establish new positions in Special Education, Administrative and Academic Support. Plans also include an alarm system teachers can activate by pressing a small device they will all wear on lanyards. That action will prompt an automatic call to 911, which will receive location information via GPS.
LAWRENCE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Lawrence County and the City of Lawrenceburg recently partnered in the purchase of land on the east side of the public library’s main branch. Its budget this year includes funding for architectural designs for an addition with expanded space for children, study rooms, a maker space, a quiet room (because libraries aren’t really quiet any more), and additional parking.
At a time when many people are facing loneliness and disconnection, libraries are filling new, important roles in communities. Our library is constantly adding programs for all ages; the addition will allow it to continue to expand in that direction.
COUNTY COMMISSION
This year’s budget includes fees for a computer-based subscription service through CivicPlus that will make all meeting minutes and resolutions more accessible and searchable. We are extremely excited about this new system because it will keep you better informed and help us research matters much more easily. I will write more about this system after it’s put in place.
COUNTY EMPLOYEES
Last but not least, the 2025-26 budget includes a cost of living raise for our employees. They have training, knowledge, and experience that makes them a priceless part of this team. Everyone has an essential role in Lawrence County government. This is a competitive job market, and they can choose to work here or elsewhere. We want to keep them here.
I am excited and hopeful about my third fiscal year and all we can accomplish for Lawrence County. I remember my first budget, with it came a little nervousness and uncertainty. Over the past three years I’ve grown to love budget season and genuinely appreciate the opportunity to practice sound fiscal conservatism while funding growth and investing in our people. Thank you for the honor of serving as County Executive.
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