Nashville Council Discusses Mayor's Budget for Employee Pay Increases

The Metropolitan Council Committee for Budget and Finance convened on May 28, 2025, to discuss key elements of the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget. The meeting focused on the evaluation of the pay plan and the funding for employee compensation adjustments.

The session began with a reminder that all presentations and budget documents are accessible on the Nashville.gov SharePoint site. Council Member Gamble expressed appreciation for the detailed information provided regarding the pay plan, which he noted was much needed. He sought clarification on whether the funding for pay range increases and step increases was included in the mayor's recommended budget. The response confirmed that all necessary adjustments, including a 2% merit increase for eligible employees and a 1% across-the-board increase, were indeed part of the filed budget.

Further clarification was provided regarding the civil service's recommendation for a 2% increase across the board, while the current budget only funds a 1% increase. This distinction was emphasized to ensure transparency for all attendees.

As the meeting progressed, Council Member Coopin, although not a committee member, thanked the presenters for their hard work and the thorough research conducted. He acknowledged the complexity of the budget discussions and expressed gratitude for the efforts made by the committee.

The meeting concluded without additional comments from committee members, indicating a focused discussion on the budget's compensation aspects. The committee's next steps will likely involve further review and potential adjustments to the proposed budget before final approval.