Nashville Metro Council Approves $3.6B 2026 Budget, New Property Tax Levy

Nashville's Metro Council approved the fiscal year 2026 budget, which totals approximately $3.6 billion and includes a new property tax levy. Council Member At Large Delishia Porterfield introduced a substitute budget that increased city employee wage raises from 1% to 2%, added funding for maternal health programs, after-school activities, and services for unhoused youth, reflecting public input from extensive hearings. The budget also emphasizes youth safety, affordable housing, and employee wages, with Mayor Freddie O’Connell endorsing the balanced plan aimed at improving schools, emergency response, and parental support. In parallel, the Nashville Budget and Finance Committee proposes a substitute budget with a total of $3.8 billion, increasing cost-of-living raises for employees to 4%, allocating $15 million for nurses in schools, and enhancing public safety funding, including additional school resource officers. The final budget decision is pending a council vote, with opportunities for residents to provide input. Separately, Airdrie City Council passed a bylaw updating developer fees for infrastructure improvements to ensure development costs are fairly allocated, following a multi-year review process.