CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The City of Clarksville is one step closer to approving a budget for the coming year.

Clarksville leaders approved the 2026 city budget on Tuesday after it failed last week.

After several amendments to some key budget topics, the budget passed in a seven-to-five vote.

To keep the tax rate increase low, Clarksville leaders went back to square one and reevaluated the budget.

The previous proposal included a 15-cent property tax rate increase. Now, the increase has been lowered to 4%.

The council eliminated all new hires for every department, including vehicles and equipment associated with these new hires, to keep the tax rate low. 

The council only restored 16 new hire positions for public safety for the police and fire department, which most councilmembers said was necessary for the city.

"We definitely needed to add positions for our fire and police after we voted down all the new hires," Councilman Carlos Peters said. "We're a growing city; I'm going to support this, and I hope that everyone else will support this, too."

Debates over defunding the Frosty Morn project also left councilmembers in a split decision. The Frosty Mourn Project is estimated at around $52 million. Defunding it would include transferring the property to a bank or trust to create a privately built low-income housing for seniors. 

"I just think it's a waste of our tax dollars to shut down the project of Frosty Mourn," Councilwoman Wanda Smith said. "I think it's a very poor decision for us to make as city council."

Ultimately, the council again voted to defund and close the project. The final vote on the budget is this Thursday. Changes are still allowed on the budget until the final reading.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/middle-tn-neighborhood-news/clarksville-moves-closer-to-budget-for-2026/