CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The City Council met Monday night for the third first reading of the FY 2026-27 budget, where they voted to disapprove the proposed amended budget with a property tax rate of $1.03.
Monday’s special session meeting came after the City Council disapproved the first reading of the budget two previous times.
On June 11, the council rejected a proposed annual budget that would have included a 24-cent property tax increase, lowered from its initial 31 cents. Concerns about lack of transparency in the budget process were also brought forward.
On June 18, even after making more than $697,000 in reductions over the course of the meeting, the City Council voted down the budget once again on an 5-8 vote.
Tax rate starts at $1.01, proposals to undo cuts
Monday night’s meeting began with Mayor Joe Pitts saying the new proposed budget he submitted on Friday has a property tax rate of $1.01 per $100 of assessed value after reductions were made.
Councilwoman Stacey Streetman proposed the City Council reexamine some of the budget items they previously cut from previous attempts. This included multiple line items for Fire Rescue, the Police Department, Parks and Recreation, Building and Codes, the IT Department and the Street Department.
“The reason I’m bringing these back is because these are all extremely important to our departments, which makes them extremely important for the benefit of our citizens,” Streetman said. Line items for CPD totaled more than $200,000, line items for Parks and Recreation totaled more than $350,000, and $1.8 million in paving was added for the Street Department.
The City Council decided to divide the question into two parts, which split the added budget items for CPD and CFR together, while separating all other departments.
Chandler: ‘We cannot continue to cut services’
Councilman Tim Chandler said his property taxes over a 20-year period went from $332 per year to $525. “I don’t own a mansion, but the thing about it is in 20 years, my property taxes went up $192.49. But in those 20 years, the police department has tripled, almost quadrupled; the fire department has tripled, almost quadrupled.
“Everybody thinks that the city is like the state, like we have some kind of printing press in the back room. That’s not it. Folks, we cannot continue to try to get the services that the City of Clarksville provides and not increase somewhere along the line. It does not add up.”
Chandler said the City of Clarksville is now paying out more money than it’s ever had to before because of the economy. “I understand and feel sorry for the people out here, but I also feel sorry for this city, and we’ve got to do something to stay on track. We cannot continue to cut services, because before too long … we’ll be cutting personnel. We’re going to be laying people off, and we can’t afford that, not at all.”
For the first half of the amendment pertaining to CPD and CFR, the City Council unanimously approved the addition of funds. The second half of the amendment was later voted down 4-10.
Streetman also brought forward an amendment to restore $860,000 to Clarksville Transit, and it was approved 7-6.
Proposed partnership on golf courses
Councilwoman Ambar Marquis reintroduced amendments dealing with the city entering into a public-private partnership with an entity looking to help run the city’s golf courses at their own expense. Last week, she motioned for a partnership with the Tennessee Golf Foundation, whose president addressed the council in a letter. It was voted down.
Marquis said she also added language that would decrease Mason Rudolph Golf Course capital project funding and instead reallocate the funds to the Street Department and their Needmore Road capital project.
Streetman asked what the $1.3 million in savings would accomplish for Needmore Road.
Street Department Director David Smith said he expects the next phase to cost somewhere around $5 million. Smith said the $1.3 million in proposed savings would be enough to restart the appraisal process and surveys, but that would be the furthest extent.
Chandler asked what happens to the Mason Rudolph Golf Course if the $1.3 million is not included in the Parks and Recreation Department budget. Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Letourneau said they could revisit making the area into a park, while suggesting keeping the driving range.
Chandler asked the same question in regard to another amendment coming in the near future, involving $2.3 million in funding for the Swan Lake Golf Course. Letourneau said she expects to lose some of the greens if that funding was removed.
Marquis said public-private partnerships like the one she is proposing are happening throughout the state, and they have had great success. The Mason Rudolph partnership amendment was voted down 5-8.
The same proposal for Swan Lake Golf Course, which would instead send $2.3 million in funding to the Rossview Road project, was voted down 5-8 as well.
Ajax Turner Senior Center decision reversed
Marquis proposed an amendment on Ajax Turner Senior Center, removing $1.28 million from the Parks and Recreation budget, while sending $776,000 to the nonprofit Ajax Turner Senior Center.
Several council members raised concerns over what they’ve heard over the last several weeks, including claims of sexual harassment and accounting irregularities.
Councilman Eric Claunch questioned why the issues with Ajax Turner Senior Center weren’t brought up earlier.
“Why was it not identified publicly before May? Why has the board been reduced? Why are the allegations and the stories not accompanied with sexual assault reports?” he questioned.
Councilwoman Keri Lovato said the claims of sexual harassment were reported.
Claunch questioned the Senior Citizens Board and their actions over the last several weeks, including the firing of the executive director, as well as the board’s closed-door meetings.
After the amendment was approved 7-6 last week, the City Council reversed course and voted down nonprofit Ajax Turner Senior Center funding 4-9.
Voting in favor were Claunch, Chandler, Marquis and Wanda Smith. Voting against were Brian Zacharias, Carlos Peters, Travis Holleman, Jerry Haywood, Jimmy Brown, Streetman, Joe Shakeenab and Lovato.
City declines to answer question on lease termination
Clarksville Now previously reached out to the City of Clarksville to clarify what statute, ordinance or part of the city charter allowed Pitts to terminate the lease without council approval.
After following back up with the city on June 18, City of Clarksville spokesperson Jimmy Settle said, “I have been advised by Mayor Pitts and City Attorney Eric Bittner that, the City Attorney addressed that question with the full City Council in an attorney/client privilege meeting, and it is confidential.”
Property tax rate raised to $1.03, budget rejected again
After a 10-minute recess to figure out the final tally for the proposed budget as amended, Pitts said the City Council added 2 cents to the proposed property tax rate of $1.01.
“We currently stand at a $1.03 on our property tax rate, and that is subject to being verified over the next couple of days. If we survive first reading, we’ll give you a final tally or an up-to-date tally at second reading,” Pitts said.
Smith motioned to decrease the tax rate from $1.03 to $0.95. That was voted down 2-11. The City Council then rejected the first reading of the budget for a third time, 6-7. Voting yes were Zacharias, Peters, Chandler, Holleman, Streetman and Pitts. Voting no were Claunch, Marquis, Smith, Haywood, Brown, Shakeenab and Lovato.
When previously asked what happens if a budget isn’t approved by the end of June, which needs first and second reading approval, City CFO Christen Wilcox said that according to city code, the City Council would have to continue to meet until a budget has been approved.
“Also, after June 30, our budget will stay the same as it is currently right now. So, our 2026-27 budget would become what is our 2025-26 budget at the moment,” she previously said.
This article will be updated.
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