Clarksville Mayor Proposes Increased Budget, Tax Hike to Address Flooding

Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts has proposed a $170 million budget for fiscal year 2025-26 that focuses on addressing neighborhood flooding, retaining and recruiting city employees, and managing rapid population growth. A key component of the proposal is a 15-cent property tax increase, raising the rate to $1.03 per $100 assessed value, which city officials attribute to growth, inflation, and expanded service needs. The budget prioritizes a new stormwater management approach, shifting responsibility to the Gas and Water Department, revising building codes to address more severe rainfall, and launching engineering studies in flood-prone areas. It also includes a 2.5% general wage increase for eligible city employees and introduces a 'Restoring Clarksville' initiative to clean up abandoned properties. Additional plans involve creating a Storm Water Utility, updating floodplain maps in partnership with FEMA, and establishing a special revenue fund to reinvest fines and liens into neighborhood improvements. City Council will review and potentially amend the proposal throughout June.