CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) The City of Clarksville 2017-18 budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 passed on second reading Monday. There was a lot of discussion and some disagreement from council members on at least two of Mayor Kim McMillan’s proposed major projects for the city. One, a Family Athletic Complex, and another, an Urban Wilderness Park.
Council members proposed amendments to remove funds to purchase land for the Athletic Complex and Wilderness Park, but the amendments both failed to pass the council. The Mayor’s budget included $6.5 million for purchasing land near I-24’s Exit 8 for a proposed Family Athletic Complex and $450,000 for property between Madison St. and the Red River off of Tanglewood Dr. for the Urban Wilderness Park.
See more info on Urban Wilderness
The city’s budget passed with a 1.5 percent general wage increase for city employees and without a property tax increase. The property tax will remain at $1.24 per $100 of assessed property value which is the same rate city property owners paid this year.
A proposed Performing Arts & Conference Center in downtown Clarksville on Franklin St. in the area of the Roxy Regional Theatre was also part of the city budget which passed by a vote of 7-5.