Final State of Metro Address Says Education, Safety, Jobs Will Always Be Nashville's Top Priorities
Press Release, NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Mayor Karl Dean today described his vision of
Nashville as a "city on a hill" and a "city of opportunity" in his
eighth and final State of Metro address, saying Nashville should be "a
city where every child can get a high-quality education; feel safe,
morning, noon and night; find a good job, and live a successful life, no
matter where he came from or what she looks like."
Mayor Dean gave the speech in Nashville Public Library's Grand
Reading Room, the same location as his first State of Metro address in
2008, to emphasize that "education and learning must always come first."
"Education is what our city has to focus on first and foremost if we
want to keep growing and getting better," Mayor Dean said. "Education is
the key that will open the door of opportunity for our children, and
it's the key for Nashville."
Throughout his eight years in office and his two campaigns, Mayor
Dean has made the case that education, public safety and economic
development are the "three pitches" the city has to hit consistently. In
today's speech, he said that will always be true.
"These three priorities are really one priority, woven tightly
together in a fabric of civic fortune, and it never changes, no matter
who the mayor is," he said.
Mayor Dean, who thanked the Metro Council, Gov. Bill Haslam and
former Mayor and former Gov. Phil Bredesen for working with him on key
initiatives, also laid out the principles he's governed by since 2007.
Those principles include making strategic investments, based on the
city's priorities, to inspire private investment; spending capital
dollars "broadly but wisely" in neighborhoods throughout Nashville;
boldly embracing new ideas and tackling tough issues; and leaving the
city in better shape financially than when he took office.
Speaking almost five years to the day after the devastating 2010
flood, he said public-private partnerships, collaborations and what he
called "the spirit of Nashville: neighbors helping neighbors - and
helping strangers" have been critical to the city's success.
"I appreciate the citizens of Nashville for giving me this
opportunity to serve and lead. The state of our city is very good, and
we've accomplished a lot together over these past eight years. But we
can't afford to take our eye off the ball and stop hitting those three
pitches. This is Nashville's time, and we have to lean into it and give
it everything we have so we can live the future we see: a city on a
hill, a city of opportunity," he said.
During the address, Mayor Dean announced his proposed operating budget would include the following:
- Operating funds for Metro Schools to make all the improvements the district's leadership has identified.
- Funds for employee compensation so that all Metro employees
would receive a 2.5 percent cost-of-living raise, while the city also
would provide increment pay for eligible employees; appropriate
increases for those not eligible for increment pay; and funds for public
safety employees who face salary compression issues.
The capital spending plan would include significant investments in
education, public safety and public infrastructure. Among the proposed
expenditures are:
- $131 million for Metro Schools, including funds to renovate
Overton High School and Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School; build a
new elementary school in Cane Ridge; planning funds to begin the process
of moving Hillwood High School to Bellevue, and planning funds for the
future of Hillsboro High School and Nashville School of the Arts.
- $149 million to relocate the Criminal Justice Center, plus
additional funds to build a new Family Justice Center, which would
provide critical services to crime victims and their families in times
of need.
- $25 million for sidewalks. Approval of the plan would bring
Mayor Dean's capital spending on sidewalks over the past eight years to
$82 million, more than any other administration has spent on sidewalk
construction in Metro history.
- $2 million to help Nashville State Community College build two new satellite campuses in Donelson and Madison.
Metro Finance Director Rich Riebeling will give a full budget
presentation to Metro Council members following the State of Metro
presentation in the David Scobey Council Chamber in the Historic Metro
Courthouse.
An annual State of Metro address by Nashville's mayor has been
mandated by the city's charter since Metro Government was established in
1963.
Twelve-time Grammy-nominated artist Dierks Bentley was the special
musical guest at the hour-long event. Bentley's critically acclaimed and
No. 1 selling album, Riser, has already produced three No. 1 hits: "I
Hold On," "Drunk on a Plane" and "Say You Do." His six previous studio
albums have sold more than five million copies and notched 13
chart-topping singles. Bentley will be kicking off his headlining summer
tour on June 5. For more information visit
www.dierks.com.
Lagnajita Mukhopadhyay, Nashville's first Youth Poet Laureate, read
her poem "The City That Never Stops Giving," which celebrates the
bustling Nashville that converges at 6th Avenue and Broadway, capturing
the unique elements that make us feel both alive and at home in our
city. Mukhopadhyay is a junior at Hume-Fogg Magnet High School. Born in
India and raised in Nashville, the young poet, singer, and songwriter is
heavily influenced by her vibrant roots and her Western upbringing. She
has won competitions in writing, visual art, and film. She plays
guitar, fiddle, piano, ukulele and mandolin.
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Rep. Marsha Blackburn
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