CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville City Council passed the 2023 city budget on first reading at a special called session on Thursday. The $144 million budget features a number of capital projects but maintains the same property tax rate as 2022.

The FY23 budget passed 9-3. Votes of “no” came from Karen Reynolds, Joe Shakeenab and Trisha Butler. Vondell Richmond was absent.

Council members proposed 10 amendments. The only amendment to pass was sponsored by Wanda Allen and added $28,600 to open a satellite community center in north Clarksville.

Five of the proposed amendments came from Trisha Butler. They included removal of funding for municipal golf courses, L&N Train Station, the Roxy, Customs House Museum and the Arts & Heritage Development Council, and the rescinding of a $1 million donation pledged to the Wings of Liberty Museum on Fort Campbell. None of Butler’s amendments passed.

No change to property tax rate

The budget proposal opens with a letter from Mayor Joe Pitts highlighting certain aspects of the budget. Property taxes were item No. 1 on that list.

“We are proposing to hold the tax rate to $1.23, therefore we are proposing no property tax increase this year,” the letter reads.

The city last increased the property tax rate in June last year in order to fund the Transportation 2020+ Plan; however, that rate remained 1 cent lower than the pre-COVID tax rate of $1.24, which had been in place from 2011 until 2019, with the exception of 2015.

Wage increase for city employees

The budget includes a 5 percent general wage increase for all regular city employees, effective July 1 of this year.

When introducing the budget to council members last week, City CFO Laurie Matta said the 5 percent is a place holder while the city awaits the completion of a market analysis, and the increase could ultimately be higher. Matta told council members the pay increase would put the city more in line with industry standards and prevent the city losing talent to other municipalities.

“We’re finding it harder and harder to compete in the market with our new hires,” Matta said. “Over the past few years, we’ve lost really good employees not only to the private sector but also to smaller local governments. … There is a real cost to the department for turnover.”

Capital projects

The budget includes a range of capital projects including major infrastructure, municipal services, and quality of life improvements. Many of these projects factor into Tier 1 of the Transportation 2020+ Plan.

Capital projects totaling over $1 million include the following:

  • Rossview/Dunbar Cave/Cardinal Improvements: $8,209,266
  • Tylertown & Oakland Intersection improvements: $2,000,000
  • Spot intersection improvements: $3,750,000
  • New Sidewalks FY20-25: $1,468,208
  • College Street Streetscape: $1,500,000
  • New Sidewalks, Tiny Town: $4,834,950
  • Exit 1 improvements: $1,296,830
  • Needmore Road improvements phase 1: $4,393,575
  • Memorial Extension: $6,945,764
  • 48/13 sidewalks/crosswalks: $2,000,000
  • Outlaw Salt Complex: $1,050,000
  • Exit 8 Athletic Complex: $14,192,780
  • Edith Pettus Park Renovations: $1,200,000
  • Regional Community Center: $7,000,000
  • Red River Pedestrian Bridge $4,155,952
  • Bel Aire Pool Renovation/Replacement: $1,750,000
  • Fire Admin & Training Facility: $7,430,000
  • Expansion of Fire Station 13: $1,850,000
  • Frosty Morn Revitalization: $8,075,000
  • City Hall HVAC & other improvements: $2,541,604
  • Outlaw Field Public Safety Complex and Fuel: $1,050,000
  • New Parking Deck for City Hall: $6,000,000

The city’s budget requires two votes to pass. Second reading will be held on Tuesday, June 14, at 4:30 p.m. The meeting will be viewable via the City of Clarksville Facebook page.