CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Two days after the City Council passed the first reading of the fiscal year 2026 budget, they returned to council chambers Thursday and approved the second reading of the budget in a matter of minutes.

The new budget was approved 6-4, with Councilpersons Brian Zacharias, Tim Chandler, Travis Holleman, Stacey Streetman, Keri Lovato and Mayor Joe Pitts all voting in favor of approval. Voting against were Councilpersons Deanna McLaughlin, Ambar Marquis, Jerry Haywood and Jimmy Brown.

Councilpersons Carlos Peters, Wanda Smith and Joe Shakeenab were not present at the time of the vote.

FY 2026 budget review

Before approving the first reading of the FY 2026 budget on Tuesday, several amendments were passed, which included Streetman’s proposal to restore 16 new-hires previously listed, along with the associated vehicles and equipment. This came after the city proposed to eliminate all new hires for the upcoming fiscal year to avoid a property tax rate increase of any kind. With Streetman’s amendment passing, the property tax rate increase rose to 4 cents.

Interim City of Clarksville CFO Christen Wilcox previously told the council that for the average homeowner with a home value of $300,000, the 4-cent property tax rate increase would be about an additional $2.20 per month.

Another amendment that was passed on Tuesday night was for the defunding and the closure of the Frosty Morn project, while turning around and marketing the property for the development of privately built and managed affordable, low-income housing for senior citizens.

Mayor speaks on budget process, Mason Rudolph Golf Course

When asked about his thoughts on the FY 2026 budget process, Pitts told Clarksville Now, “You want everybody’s input. That’s why they’re elected, to make sure to represent their constituents in their ward. Ultimately, we got a budget passed with some growth in personnel, which is what we need as the city grows. So, I’m pleased with the outcome.”

Pitts also spoke on Mason Rudolph Golf Course with the staff inclusion in the FY 2026 budget. “That capital project, and the personnel to go along with it, is funded. Now, it’s a process of going through and redoing the greens, while doing some other work out there.”

Pitts said there isn’t currently a timeline for the project, but they look forward to moving “full steam ahead.”

Executive session meeting

Following the approval of the second reading of the budget, the City Council also held an executive session meeting on Thursday, which included the discussion and consideration for three ordinances that look to address the need for affordable housing for families in Clarksville.

When asked about the opportunity to provide Clarksville with additional affordable housing, Pitts told Clarksville Now, “All three ordinances are a result of the hard work of our Neighborhood and Community Services Department. They have spent months developing relationships with the non-profit organizations who will be the beneficiaries of these properties.

“Each one serves a specific purpose, either providing a 2023 tornado surviving family a new home, one of our CMCSS families in need of housing, and of course, Habitat for Humanity, who continues to be a great source for owner occupied affordable housing.  I am proud to support these initiatives and look forward to many more.”

Michelle Austin, Director of Neighborhood and Community Services, added to Pitts comments at Thursday’s council meeting, and she went into further detail about each affordable housing ordinance.

While speaking on the ordinance regarding the city’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Austin said that families interested have to go through a long application process, while also being vetted for the program.

“Once they qualify, they put in sweat-equity, they go through classes, and they also apply for and obtain a mortgage for this low-cost home,” Austin told the council. “Our intent is to use our HOME investment partnership entitlement funds to purchase these lots, donate them to Habitat to remove some of the cost associated with developing these homes.”

Marquis pointed out all three ordinances are receiving HOME investment funds and asked how much the city receives in funding each year. Austin responded by saying the city receives $500,000 annually.

CMCSS Families in Transition

The Neighborhood and Community Services Director next spoke on obtaining a quadplex for the CMCSS Families in Transition Program.

“These are children and families who are experiencing a transition of some sort. They have some sort of housing insecurity,” Austin said. “There are so many different variables that land children and their families in this program. They are currently working with the Irene Center for Hope as a referral to get their students and families into housing. They’ve been successful in getting some of those families already into some permanent housing.

“Others are using some of our community block grant funds, and emergency services funds to pay for hotel rooms,” she said. “But this is a quadplex that would allow those families to have a two-bedroom townhome for them to immediately enter and kind of get their lives back on track while the organization works to put them into some permanent housing. So, our plan is to obtain this property and then work through an agreement with the non-profit to serve those clients.”

‘We have three families who have yet to rebuild’

Austin also discussed an ordinance providing affordable housing in partnership with the Appalachian Service Project (ASP). She said this is a purchase of another lot to provide the affordable housing for people in need.

“You may not be aware but not everybody in our community has fully stood up from the tornado that devasted us in December of 2023,” Austin said. “We have three families who have yet to rebuild. The Appalachian Service Project is committed to come in and build up to 20 homes in our community this year. We have two homes that are already under construction.

“I would invite you to find out more about those projects, it’s really beautiful. But they’ve also committed to helping some of our tornado survivors who were in rental housing at the time. Those families are now ready to stand up and own their own home. They are working with those families now; we just need to find lots for them. So, this one parcel would actually provide three lots for housing for tornado survivors.”

What’s next

The City Council’s regular session meeting for July has been moved from Thursday, July 3rd, to Tuesday, July 1st. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

This article has been updated with additional information. 

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