March and April Highlights

My schedule this month has been very full. Here’s a synopsis of the county meetings I attended:

March 4th – Leadership Cumberland – Education Tour
Along with the other selected 2026 members of this group, I toured the following facilities, focusing on CTE and Dual Enrollment programs. Cumberland students now have more opportunities than ever to prepare for careers that can begin upon, or shortly after, high school graduation.

• Roane State Community College, including the new Cameron Sexton Wing for Health Sciences
• RSCC Business Incubator
• Stone Memorial High School
• Cumberland County High School
• Tennessee College of Applied Technology

March 6th – Financial Management
The committee met to approve awards of bids for budgeted projects in both the county and school system.

March 10th – School and Education Committee
Dr. Rebecca Farley, District of Schools, presented a comprehensive overview of the updated Strategic Plan for the next 5 years. Topics included Demographics for the schools (personnel and students), Academics Goals, Human Resources, Safety and Security and a comprehensive facilities assessment. During the upcoming budget process, much of this information will be revisited.

March 13th – Audit Committee
The committee reviewed the state Comptroller’s annual audit, including findings and responses by the appropriate offices.

March 16th – CPWA Meeting & County Commission Meeting
The Cumberland Plateau Water Authority (CPWA) meets monthly and discussed the following:

• The appointment of a new Operations Director with 33 years of experience in water districts.
• A report noting that all CPWA debt has been consolidated and retired.
• A resolution prepared to begin discovery regarding a potential merger with the City of Crossville (approved by the City Council on March 10th).

March 18th – SS4A
Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) is a grant technical assistance program available through the U.S. Department of Transportation. The first initiative is a public safety survey, which is reported to have good response numbers. The survey and accident data are being combined to locate safety issues on the road system and identify priorities to be addressed. The next phase will be a road condition survey that will identify and prioritize maintenance needs across the county.

March 19th – Opioid Task Force
Representatives from the Judicial System, local Law Enforcement, Health and Safety and non-profit groups work together to assist in addiction recovery. Moneys have been provided from a major settlement with pharmaceutical companies to address addiction impacts. Local groups have been allocated some of this money to implement plans in conjunction with law enforcement to aid recovery.

March 26th – VIP Experience with Tourism Summit
TN Department of Tourist Development with Commissioner Mark Ezell presented an impressive report of both Tennessee and Cumberland County’s tourism impacts. A bonus was to hear from Stuart Deming of XPLR.NASH. His platform promotes not only Nashville, but rural TN areas well outside of Music City. Cumberland County is featured in this 25 minute mini-documentary “The Hidden Side of Tennessee (Buc-ee’s and Beyond)”

March 31st – Environmental Committee
Besides routine requests for roads list additions, a concerned citizen experiencing health impacts from a nearby industry is asking for assistance. The county has minimal authority for the situation but options and information will be explored.

Budget Committee Recap: April 7, 2026

The Budget Committee meeting opened with an insightful presentation from the Crossville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce.

Key highlights from the presentation by P.J. Barnes, Tourism Director:

• Economic Impact: Tourism contributes $212.4 million annually to the local economy—an average of $776 per household—placing Cumberland County 52nd out of 95 Tennessee counties.
• Visitor Spending: Non-residents account for 46% of all credit card transactions in the county. These visitors are vital to the local economy, providing essential sales tax revenue that supports county operations.
• Fiscal Strategy: Investing in tourism marketing is a strategic approach to increasing funding for county needs without raising property tax rates for residents.
• The “Overnight” Advantage: While the average day visitor spends $72, an overnight guest contributes more than $200 per day. Targeted marketing to increase overnight stays will significantly boost both sales and occupancy tax revenues.
• Accommodations: Beyond traditional hotels/motels, the county’s 175+ Airbnb properties and numerous RV sites are major contributors to occupancy tax revenue.
• Marketing Success: Recent campaigns have driven a significant surge in interest, with website traffic increasing from 52,000 to 185,000 views and digital impressions growing from 33,000 to over 10 million.

This presentation provided a compelling context for the upcoming budget cycle. The committee’s pace will accelerate in May, as members begin weekly sessions to finalize the 2026-27 budget.

Stay Informed. Stay In Touch.

• Check this page regularly for new recaps and previews.
• Send questions or topic ideas to Craig@CraigClark-District3.com or (931) 248‑2007.

Thanks for stopping by and for caring about what’s happening in Cumberland County and District 3.

Craig