Schools, transportation and public facilities would receive major investments under a $544.72 million capital spending proposal Mayor Freddie O’Connell has sent to Metro Council. Council members are expected to consider the plan in the coming weeks, with approval required before the proposed projects receive funding.
The proposal is O’Connell’s fourth Capital Spending Plan and is slightly larger than the $532 million plan from late 2025. Its largest listed allocations include $107.4 million for Metro Nashville Public Schools and $86.3 million for the Nashville Department of Transportation’s roads, bridges and Vision Zero work.
Within the schools allocation, $15 million would support a new elementary school in Antioch, while more than $27 million would go toward heating, cooling and plumbing projects. The proposal also includes $44 million for Nashville Fire Department station construction and renovations and $14.3 million for Metro Parks projects.
Funding for active transportation and bikeways would rise to $8.5 million, compared with $3 million in the 2025 plan. Another $75 million would support relocating Metro offices and other space from an airport-adjacent facility scheduled to close.
While the spending proposal awaits council consideration, Nashville’s arts sector is navigating an immediate disruption. The Nashville Symphony announced Tuesday that Mark Tillinger had replaced president and CEO Mark Cantrell, one day after the organization announced a season suspension and furloughs for its staff and musicians.
Cantrell had taken the job at the beginning of August, with experience helping music organizations improve their finances among the reasons for his selection. His departure places the organization under new leadership less than two months later.
Tillinger brings both investment and musical experience to the role. He is a senior adviser and limited partner at a private equity firm, previously served on the Symphony’s board, co-founded the Music City Brass Ensemble and plays tuba with the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra.
Symphony board chair Teresa Sebastian endorsed Tillinger’s appointment. Tillinger identified rebuilding the organization’s financial footing and strengthening fundraising as priorities, along with preparing it for the future.
The Nashville Ballet said Tuesday that its upcoming production of Giselle with the Symphony would proceed. The ballet also said it intends to seek opportunities to work directly with as many furloughed Symphony musicians as possible.
In education, three Nashville charter schools overseen by the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission are facing intervention tied to low performance. The commission’s actions carry different requirements depending on the intervention level.
Nashville Collegiate Prep received a Level 2 intervention, which requires a notice of deficiency to its governing board and a corrective plan from the school. It earned a C letter grade from the state for the 2024-25 school year and a Level 3 academic growth score under the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System, or TVAAS.
Tennessee Nature Academy and Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary received Level 1 interventions, requiring notices of concern to their governing boards. Both earned D letter grades for 2024-25. Tennessee Nature Academy’s TVAAS growth score was Level 1 out of 5, while Rocketship Nashville Northeast’s was Level 3. The commission uses five intervention tiers; the two highest involve recommending or initiating closure.
Federal assistance will also bring money to the area. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced $14 million for 20 Tennessee projects, including $2.1 million for Davidson County repairs and emergency protective measures and $4.5 million for debris removal in Brentwood. Statewide awards address needs ranging from Hurricane Helene repairs to cleanup after winter storms, as well as preparedness and hazard mitigation.
Separately, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Christa Pike’s appeal Tuesday night, leaving Tennessee positioned to execute her Wednesday morning. The Tennessee Supreme Court and Gov. Bill Lee had also declined to intervene.
Pike was sentenced to death in 1996 for killing Colleen Slemmer when both were teenagers. If carried out, the execution would be Tennessee’s first of a woman in more than 200 years and its first in the modern, post-1976 death penalty era for an offense committed at age 18.