By Katie Northcott, News Director
Four representatives of the Coffee County Senior Citizens Center spoke at a public hearing on Tullahoma’s Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget, asking that the city delay absorbing the Coffee County Senior Center under the Tullahoma Parks & Recreation Department. The hearing took place on June 29.
Three speakers cited concerns that the move would cause the center to lose its character, jeopardize donor engagement, and risk the center’s 501(c)3 status. They emphasized that the center had been able to build strong engagement. One speaker, Linda Miller, said the center serves 111 seniors weekly.
“The Parks & Rec and Senior Center coming under one entity has many positive aspects,” said Vickie Fulmer, Director of the Senior Center. “We’re concerned that this move, done too quickly, could jeopardize donor engagement and community interest and support that continues to grow. As of today, we have heard from five of our generous donors, stating that based on this upcoming partnership on such short notice, that their new [donations] are on hold until decisions are made.”
One other speaker asked the BOMA to wait until a different oversight board could step in to help the Senior Center.
Discussion about the Senior Center coming under the Parks & Recreation Department began at the June 8 meeting of the BOMA. Parks & Recreation Director JP Kraft responded to citizen concerns at the June 29 hearing, saying that the city did not plan to make drastic changes to the center.
“It would just be run by the city in the aspect of maintenance, custodial, and front desk,” Kraft said. “We would ask that the 501(c)3 stay on to help us program the center.”
Kraft said that the city might introduce activity fees to the center but that admission to the center would be free. He said that he would like to help the center, but that it is ultimately the BOMA’s decision.
Tullahoma Mayor Lynn Sebourn said that the city planned to include funding for the center in the FY27 budget but would not vote on bringing the center under Parks & Recreation that night. He said the BOMA would hold study sessions before making its final decision.
At the BOMA’s regular meeting following the hearing, the budget passed with a 5-0-0-2 vote (Aldermen Kurt Glick and Busch Thoma absent).
Much of the discussion around the city’s budget this year has centered on how tourism dollars should be distributed. Members of the BOMA previously discussed whether the Tullahoma Sports Council and South Jackson Performing Arts Center should receive more funding. The BOMA introduced two amendments at its June 29 meeting to address the funding requests.
Find reporting on the budget’s first two readings here and here.
Alderman Matthew Bird introduced a motion to increase the Tullahoma Arts Council’s funding from $1,500 to $6,000. Several members of the Arts Council had spoken in support of the funding increase along with Greg Gressel, Executive Director of the South Jackson Performing Arts Center.
“Investing in South Jackson is investing in tourism, it’s investing in economic development, it’s investing in quality of life, and most importantly, it’s investing in Tullahoma’s future,” Gressel said.
The amendment passed unanimously.
Mayor Lynn Sebourn introduced a motion to increase Sports Council funding from $0 to $35,000. Sports Council member Scott Shasteen spoke in favor of the motion during the public hearing on the budget. Aldermen Bobbie Wilson and Jerry Mathis also expressed support for the motion.
“I just want to make sure the Sports Council gets what they deserve,” Mathis said. “It’s an outstanding group. They do a lot with our sports.”
The amendment passed unanimously.
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