As the standoff between the Mayor and the soccer team persists, I find myself wanting to be in favor of beginning stadium construction immediately.

As last year's city election season turned into fall and now into a new year, the inability to move forward on building the soccer stadium is beginning to take its toll. When the city passed legislation approving the stadium financing in 2018, there was also a landmark consensual community benefits agreement between Nashville Soccer Holdings and Stand Up Nashville.

This is a follow-up to my earlier post introducing a tentative schedule for this year's Council budget process. As part of the process, Budget Committee Vice Chair Toombs and I will conduct six community budget meetings around the county.

Mayor Cooper and Finance Director Crumbo announced recently that they would like to move Metro's typical budget process forward one month. Instead of the Council working to pass a budget by the end of June, they propose that we pass a budget by the end of May.

Metro's audited financials -- or Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) -- are usually done and posted online in December. I took a few minutes today looking at the CAFR for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019. Here are a few quick notes:

There is confusion about the status of deploying body worn cameras in Nashville. Samantha Max at WPLN had a good story earlier this week that lays out the history of delays. Other media also have reported extensively about the evolving time line and cost.

This is a follow-up on yesterday's post about Mayor Cooper's announcement to reallocate $17.95 million of capital spending from the stalled Gulch pedestrian bridge to other infrastructure projects around the city.

I am optimistic about Metro fixing its finance problems. It also is important that we be realistic too.For each of the last two years, I and others in the Council have proposed a 50 cent property tax rate increase.

Today, the Metro Council has heard presentations from Metro Water Services about expected water rate increases and from the Comptroller for the State of Tennessee about the city government's financial condition.

The Comptroller for the State of Tennessee will make a presentation to the Metro Council on November 13, 2019, about Metro's finances.

This is a follow-up on yesterday's post about Mayor Cooper's announcement to reallocate $17.95 million of capital spending from the stalled Gulch pedestrian bridge to other infrastructure projects around the city.

Mayor Cooper announced today that he will reallocate approximately $18 million of capital spending dollars approved during the Dean administration for a Gulch pedestrian bridge to other infrastructure spending around the county.

Today, Sheriff Hall announced that Nashville's jail will no longer house ICE detainees. This is a welcome change.

We are headed into the second month of the new Council term. There's a lot brewing. Today I'll talk about some of the money and budget issues facing Metro, but let me start with a handful of the more significant non-money issues

I am sending this message to Metro Council members today...On August 6, 2019, the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury sent a letter to Mayor Briley and the Metro Council.

The Mayor and Council Members received this letter from the State Comptroller today. I am hurrying to get thoughts out before our Council meeting this evening. Please excuse any typos.

Thank you! On Thursday, August 1, 2019, the voters of Davidson County elected me to a second term as an At-Large Member of our Metro Council.

I have two tax increment financing (TIF) bills I am trying to pass before the Council term ends in August. Both bills are up for the 2nd of three readings tonight.

I've been working on getting the details of the TIF loan restructuring that is going to allow another $7.5 million for MNPS salaries.MDHA has been very helpful in giving me details this week.

During this election season, a lot of incumbents and candidates are talking about the Music City Center and Omni Hotel financing.