Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr:

• 2025-26 Budget passed unanimously 21-0
• Third year in a row, county has had a balanced budget (never has happened in the past).
• Third year in a row gave raises to county employees (never has happened in the past).
• Rutherford County received its third AAA bond rating.
• Rutherford County is one of 54 counties nationwide to have that distinction, and there are over 3,100 counties in the USA. 
• Forensic Center is budgeted, and County will pay cash--no need to borrow, no impact on county taxes! This is a $15-million project, with an additional $4.4-million for site work, a new EMS station, expanded parking lot for County Court Clerk's office (all to be at the same location on Weakley Lane in Smyrna. The projected opening of the Forensic Center is the 1st quarter of 2027. Site work began this past Monday, July 21, 2025. The groundbreaking ceremony will be in August, however--that date has not been set at this time. 

Note: Rutherford County is still Tennessee's fastest growing counties, and has passed Hamilton County (Chattanooga) to be this state's 4th largest populated counties. The State of Tennessee requires counties to do autopsies on "unattended deaths". The state financially helped all other counties that have built a forensic center, but have not done so with Rutherford County. 

County Mayor Carr indicated that the "state" and other groups are jealous that this county is able to move forward without "state funding".  Rutherford County is the first county in Tennessee build a forensic center with no state funding. Carr noted, "We were turned-down not just one-tine by the State of Tennessee, not two times--but THREE times!"

Other information in broadcast:

• What impact does the City of Murfreesboro annexing Middle Point Landfill have?  County Mayor Carr explained, "It allows Murfreesboro to have additional oversight of the landfill. Carr said, "I applaud Mayor McFarland, City Manager Darren Gore, and the City Council for their vision. Republic has had multiple infractions cited by TDEC. The annexation enables the City to have more power to enforce changes at the landfill, especially in the area of storm water runoff." He noted that the County has video showing trash flowing off the landfill, across Landfill Road, into a pond and ultimately into the Stones River.
• Discussion of places to get driver's licenses
• Planned Rutherford: a way to prepare for a community that we can appreciate and enjoy.  TRAFFIC and EDUCATION are two big areas, along with FIRE, POLICE, and SAFETY. 
• Potential Smyrna-Rutherford County Airport for "Regional" use, and it can handle planes as large as 747's. Plus, the National Guard is attempting to move from BNA to Smyrna. 
• Discussion of old Goldstein's building, Linebaugh Library, etc.