CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Mayor Kim McMillan presented a proposed 2017-18 budget Wednesday that calls for no property tax increase, but provides for significant investment in public safety, new roadways, a downtown Performing Arts and Conference Center, a family Athletic Complex and land for a new Urban Wilderness park in the heart of the city.
“I’m proposing a No-Tax-Increase budget, with the property tax rate remaining $1.24 per $100 of assessed property value,” Mayor McMillan said in her annual budget speech to the community. “This is the same rate City property owners paid this year.”
The Mayor reaffirmed her support for two big projects she has been advocating for several years — the family Athletic Complex and the downtown Performing Arts and Conference Center.
“Yes, I’m being stubborn on these two key projects, but it’s because I’m convinced they are necessary and supported by a broad number of Clarksville’s citizens,” Mayor McMillan said. “Sometimes you have to take a stand and fight for what you know is best.”
The city’s consultants say the arts and conference center will result in adding some 200 events a year downtown, in the form of theatrical performances, music concerts, family entertainment events, and conferences and meetings.
“This is exactly the kind of stimulus downtown needs, and will revitalize and inspire economic activity at restaurants, retail shops and nightclubs that will revive downtown,” McMillan said.
The budget requests $1.5 million dollars and authorization to begin negotiations to purchase the Roxy Theatre building and the building adjacent to the city-owned lot on Franklin Street to keep the project moving forward.
Mayor McMillan also announced a new twist on her plan to build a family Athletic Complex on about 350 acres near Exit 8.
She said National Sports Services, a Denver company involved in minor league baseball and soccer teams and sports facility development, has formally signaled its interest in working with the City of Clarksville to bring a professional minor league baseball or soccer team, or perhaps both, to the Athletic Complex.
“I have included $6.5 million dollars in Capital Project funding to purchase land and continue the work on the Athletic Complex I have proposed near Exit 8,” McMillan said. “I know the Athletic Complex is a project that Clarksville needs and, from what I hear from the vast number of families with children who play youth sports, this is a project that many Clarksville residents want.”
McMillan had included similar amounts on both projects money in previous year’s budgets, but it was reduced by the City Council.
“I hope that is not the case this year,” she said Wednesday.
This budget also contains two completely new proposals — acquisition of a unique tract of land in the heart of Clarksville to develop into an Urban Wilderness Park and development of performance amphitheater in Liberty Park.
The Urban Wilderness would be on rugged, mostly privately owned land that lies between Madison Street and the Red River off of Tanglewood Drive. It includes dense vegetation, steep ravines, primitive trails, and a stream with a waterfall.
The City envisions connecting the natural area to its system of Greenways and Blueways, and creating a recreational initiative similar to the Knoxville Urban Wilderness, which incorporates acreage south of that city’s downtown waterfront.
McMillan has budgeted $450,000 in Capital Projects funding to purchase land and get started on design of the Urban Wilderness.
She also has included $100,000 in this budget to begin design of a performance amphitheater in Liberty Park with a permanent stage and lawn seating for 5,000 suitable for big-time concerts and other events.
The space would be designed for rental to concert and event promoters, and would provide a stream of income to help maintain other Parks & Recreation Department assets and programming.