On January 26, Mayor John Cooper announced his 2023 Capital Spending Plan (CSP) that prioritizes three core investments areas, including:

 •   Providing our teachers and students with high-quality facilities and technology to teach and learn;

 •   Providing our first responders resources to keep Nashville residents safe; and

 •   Upgrading city infrastructure to create a more efficient and livable city for all.

In addition to this year’s $478,040,000 CSP, Metro is able to invest another $84,411,000 toward long-standing departmental needs in a separate supplemental capital replacement fund. The supplemental one-time spending budget is possible because of conservative revenue projections coupled with robust economic growth that Metro Finance expects will result in an improved FY 2023 revenue forecast, remaining in compliance with Metro’s new fund balance policy.

In this year’s CSP and supplemental capital replacement fund, over $155,000,000 will be directed toward educational initiatives—with the vast majority directly allocated to Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS); over $140,000,000 toward public safety; and over $97,490,000 toward infrastructure and storm water management.

“With this year’s capital spending plan, we are doubling down on our prior investments and continuing to put Nashville neighborhoods first,” said Mayor Cooper. “Because of responsible, strategic financial management, we can invest in projects like building brand new facilities for Lakeview, Percy Priest and Paragon Mills Elementary Schools, and creating the new Nashville Youth Empowerment Center. Significant investments at NDOT and Metro Water Services will continue to improve the core city services that our residents rely on every day. Making smart investments alongside our city’s growth is essential to creating a Nashville that works for all. I’m proud to take a big step toward that important goal today.”

In the 2023 CSP, Cooper has proposed building brand new schools for Lakeview Elementary and Percy Priest Elementary, and funding a near-total renovation of Paragon Mills Elementary—fully funding three new elementary schools.

The proposal also calls for $27 million in upgrades, repairs and much-needed maintenance at MNPS schools across the county.

“The capital investments proposed by Mayor Cooper will help us create and sustain excellent learning communities for our students, teachers, and support staff,” said MNPS Director of Schools Dr. Adrienne Battle. “Schools that are well-designed, beautiful, and safe play a key role in our work to make every student known and prepare every student for success. These additions, renovations, and upgrades will build on the investments from Mayor Cooper and the Metro Council that we’ve been so fortunate to receive for the past few years.”

As part of Cooper’s commitment to public safety, he is moving forward funding a new home for the Davidson County Juvenile Justice Center. Located on Brick Church Pike, the new Nashville Youth Campus for Empowerment will replace the deteriorating building currently across from Nissan Stadium, and will house a 14-acre campus to serve nearly 80,000 young people. The new facility will include a 24-hour assessment center to support youth in crisis, spacious meeting rooms for court staff and community partners to conduct mediations and peacefully resolve situations when possible, and a safe exchange facility for custodial visitation to strengthen families.

This year’s CSP will fund phase one of the center’s construction at $92 million, with the additional funding for the $230 million center slated for future budgets.

“This multimillion-dollar investment by Mayor Cooper solidifies the city’s support for children and their families,” said Judge Sheila Calloway. “I am thankful that our city is prioritizing the nation’s first family-centered, trauma-informed campus in Nashville-Davidson County that will equip and empower our youth toward success. The Nashville Youth Campus for Empowerment (NYCE) will make a difference in generations to come.”

Other public safety initiatives include $11 million for a new Nashville Fire Department headquarters, a new barn for MNPD mounted patrol in Old Hickory, new firetrucks, police vehicles and ambulances, and the planning for a new gun range.

This year’s CSP also allocates $78,990,000 to Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT) to expand resurfacing projects to more neighborhoods, implement traffic calming and other Vision Zero initiatives to eliminate pedestrian fatalities, upgrade traffic management and signaling to cut down on congestion, and a number of other essential infrastructure investments. That total also includes $13,806,000 to significantly expand sidewalk construction in neighborhoods across Nashville. An additional $18,500,000 has been allotted to Metro Water Services for investment in stormwater management to mitigate flooding.