CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (Clarksvillenow.com) Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan announced her proposed 2016-17 city budget Friday, May 13, which is just over $389 million and includes a 5 cent property tax increase and 2 percent general wage increase for city employees.
A tax increase of 15 cents was something the mayor said the city feared would be necessary this year. McMillan said tax collections were better than expected in both sales taxes and State Shared Revenue in the Hall Income Tax.
The budget that was passed last year put the tax rate back to the level that existed prior to the reappraisal, $1.24 and based on the economic situation at the time, city officials believed there would have to be a higher increase this year.
“The 5 cents I am proposing is to finish the work we’ve started and to make sure all of the people across Clarksville have the resources and public safety responses they need to allow the other departments of city government to continue to provide the excellent services Clarksvillians have come to expect,” said McMillan.
The 5 cents means that the average homeowner in Clarksville who pays property taxes will see an increase of $1.34 per month. McMillan said even at $1.29 the city’s property tax rate is still far below that of the other four major cities and added that rate is till 75 cents less than we were paying, in Clarksville, just 15 years ago.
For this year’s budget the mayor said she asked each city department to hold any unavoidable proposed increases to 4.5 percent of last year’s budget. Part of the 4.5 percent is for the proposed wage hike with the other 2.5 percent targeted increase based on general economic growth.
On the wage increase McMillan said “They deserve it. We have an incredibly talented and dedicated city employee team. They are the people who provide much needed services every day. There is no question in my mind that our employees deserve this 2 percent general wage increase,” McMillan said.
McMillan highlighted funding for two projects she believes will lead to economic development as well as other benefits for Clarksville. Those are the proposed Clarksville Performing Arts and Conference Center and the Athletic Complex.
McMillan said once again the proposed tax increase this year is necessary for public safety. The mayor talked about the construction of the North Police Precinct and the opening of Clarksville Fire Rescue Station 12, both of which are fully operational. Work is also underway on Fire Station 11 at Exit 1 which is expected to be opened by this fall.
Mayor Kim McMillan’s proposed 2016-17 Clarksville city budget is expected to be posted soon on the city website, go to www.cityofclarksville.com.