State of Metro is Better than Ever
For further information, contact:
Molly Sudderth, 862-6030
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2007
Mayor Bill Purcell said the State of Metro is “the better than ever” in his final annual address to the city.
“For the first time in our history Nashville stands at the front of all American cities,” Purcell said, speaking on the Public Square.
The mayor reviewed the accomplishments of the past eight years, highlighting improvements for schools and public safety.
“We invested in our schools and increased annual funding by over 43 percent,” Purcell said. “Having made 538 school visits and visited every school three times, I can say that we will have fixed or replaced every school in this city.”
He said the city has invested $200 million for public safety including courts, new police precincts and fire halls and 900 new jail beds.
The mayor asked the Metro Council to approve a final capital plan of $264 million that would put an additional $85 million in schools and $14 million in the Police and Fire Departments.
The plan would also include $8 million for the first phase of a Riverfront Redevelopment plan. Purcell said in addition to the funding he will file legislation to put the old Thermal Plant site in the hands of the Metropolitan Housing Development Agency (MDHA) for development.
”I believe we have the chance to grasp the momentum of all that is going on in the surrounding Rolling Mill Hill and SoBro areas and create a Riverfront neighborhood that will draw investment and retail to our downtown,” Purcell said. ”The largest part of the land should be devoted to public park space that can also serve as a public performance venue for concerts and shows.”
The State of Metro Address was Purcell’s eighth and last. He pushed for an amendment to the Metro Charter in 2006 to limit a mayor’s terms to two consecutive terms in office.
It marked the first State of Metro Address on the Public Square, which opened on Oct 1, 2006, the 200th birthday of the city of Nashville’s.
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Capital Funding Highlights 2000-2006
Total funding $1,591,644,944
Schools $362,431,600
- 30 new schools, additions and renovations
- $159,405,800
- A.Z. Kelley Elementary
- Buena Vista Elementary
- Caldwell Elementary
- Cameron Middle
- Croft Middle
- Dupont Hadley Middle
- Eakin Elementary
- East Literature Magnet
- Glendale Elementary
- Glengarry Elementary (2 additions)
- Henry Maxwell Elementary
- Henry Oliver Middle
- I.T. Creswell Arts Magnet
- Jere Baxter Middle (addition)
- Jones Paideia Magnet
- Lockeland Elementary
- Marshall Middle
- Meigs Magnet
- Neely’s Bend Middle
- Old Center Elementary
- Ruby Major Elementary
- Shayne Elementary
- Sylvan Park Elementary
- Thomas Edison Elementary
- Warner Elementary
- Hillwood Cluster Elementary (planning)
- McGavock Elementary (planning)
- Neely’s Bend Elementary (planning)
- West End Middle (construction)
- Cane Ridge High (out to bid)
Police $24,384,569
Five new police stations
- Hermitage
- North
- Central at the Nashville Arena
- East (construction)
- West (planning)
Fire $29,666,653
- Five new fire stations and renovation of another six fire stations
Sheriff’s Department
- 900 new jail beds
Parks
- Bells Bend Park
- Beaman Park Nature Center and trails
- Hadley Park Community Center
- East Park Community Center
- Parkwood Community Center
- McFerrin Park Community Center
- Fort Negley Park
- Peeler Park
- Providence Park
- Skate Park at Wave Country
- Stones River Greenway
- Richland Creek Greenway
Sidewalks and ADA improvements
- $78,750,000 $136.8 miles
Capital Plan 2007-2008
Total funding $263,534,096
Schools $84,763,000
- Technology $14.5 million
- Maplewood High Renovations $11.2 million
Police $7,254,300
Fire $6,825,500
- Master Plan Implementation
Parks $25,240,800
- Master Plan for Parks and Greenways $14.5 million
- Riverfront Redevelopment Plan $8 million
Head Start $5,096,000
Library $5,875,000
MTA $7,000,000
Public Works $46,785,000
- $4.6 million