[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6587986,"mediaKeyId","5503461-0b4f75ec8939512bde11965ee5189f00","parentId",5503461,"title","Votes at a glance: Jonesborough approves liquor licenses, street plan, code changes and FY26 rates","audioSeconds",4764,"startMs",298000,"endMs",5062000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5503461-0b4f75ec8939512bde11965ee5189f00&start=298&end=5062","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5503461-0b4f75ec8939512bde11965ee5189f00/thumbnail_298000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6587986/Jonesborough/Washington-County/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-Jonesborough-approves-liquor-licenses-street-plan-code-changes-and-FY26-rates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587986-4a8d153a5177abf7650124325107f546/orig.mp4?Expires=1773549269&Signature=THWCZpB90r8qMGgJqGSILq4jFR7fLLdz7U3vP79SHBp9NGM~Tw6g5DoJJN79zdJ0s1okcXqm9yMEGAdqhuMBCVQYFui9aDUyseZYeUt4B~Se~YW758zkBcVfVY8oryneyGswBb9GCoPVQ8j2l4YOuKhi7J~FyAVnY7e~qrpNJRiETkV2pM5zPbjMb3aj-DAMsBTqqPMlUIgMuMbeKIVvhjRRx0296e92yln513actbwcDnSiFlCxEfGIWzIr~UxEph9lmDJv9tXGVLHK7ZQS06RFvUpTOSsFz4YSZnpVn5U1svVbAJRPHF6B662n6MbmRanPdadwdy7430ItzSOEeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Jonesborough","date","2025-07-30T12:44:32Z","article","The Town of Jonesborough approved a series of motions and ordinances at a called meeting that implemented the fiscal 2025-26 budget and several related administrative items. Officials said many items had been discussed in earlier workshops and were brought forward for final action.

Key votes and outcomes

- On-premise beer licenses: The Beer Board approved applications for Jackson's Prime at 111 West Main Street and Buzzed Wings at 109 Courthouse Square. Both motions passed by roll call. \"That too was approved,\" the recorder announced after the roll calls.

- Franklin Avenue traffic pattern: The board discussed a possible conversion of Franklin Avenue to one-way northbound and voted to keep it two-way for the time being while monitoring traffic patterns. The motion to accept staff recommendation to retain two-way operation passed on roll call.

- Employee evaluations: The board adopted a new employee evaluation form and authorized administration to begin systematic employee evaluations. Aldermen praised staff for preparing the form; the motion passed.

- Building code updates: Second and final reading passed for amendments to the Jonesborough Municipal Building Code (Title 4, Chapter 1, sections 4-105 and 4-106) that adjust plan-review and related development fees.

- Rates and fees package for FY26: The board approved ordinances and resolutions establishing the general fund budget and property tax rate, garbage collection fees, and water and sewer rates for fiscal year 2025-26. The board also approved higher water and sewer tap fees to reflect material and installation cost increases and a reimbursement resolution authorizing short-term borrowing and repayment procedures.

- Employee compensation and miscellaneous amendments: The employee compensation plan for FY26 and several budget amendments for FY24-25 were approved. A resolution setting water and sewer tap fees and a reimbursement resolution were also approved.

How the board voted: Most motions passed unanimously or with broad support during roll calls. On the FY26 budget ordinance establishing the property tax rate, one alderman recorded a \"no\" vote during the roll call; the motion nonetheless carried. For several routine items the record shows unanimous \"aye\" responses during roll calls.

Context: Town staff said most items had been considered in multiple workshops and noted that tap-fee increases reflect higher material costs, particularly copper. Officials encouraged residents to attend budget workshops for a line-by-line review of spending and to participate in forthcoming neighborhood outreach on the connector concept discussed during public comment.

Formal actions recorded at the meeting appear below with motion language, movers and outcomes as stated in the meeting record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jonesborough BMA Called Meeting: July 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board completed multiple routine and final readings: two on-premise beer licenses approved, Franklin Avenue left as two-way for now, employee-evaluation form adopted, building-code fee updates passed, and a package of rates and fee ordinances for FY26 approved.","taxTitle","Jonesborough, Washington County, Tennessee","taxId",54380,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587991,"Jonesborough adopts annual budget with tax increase after public opposition to proposed connector road",4537,503000,5040000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5503461-0b4f75ec8939512bde11965ee5189f00&start=503&end=5040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5503461-0b4f75ec8939512bde11965ee5189f00/thumbnail_503000.jpg","/articles/6587991/Jonesborough/Washington-County/Tennessee/Jonesborough-adopts-annual-budget-with-tax-increase-after-public-opposition-to-proposed-connector-road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587991-84863c89a0002d6fe0650a7ae030c906/orig.mp4?Expires=1773549269&Signature=Ed-cc-FyC6uOOInAGWMVa2-npSYdkD1sTjR3jLCAAereiJJdSCuacJZeQqH5fBgSIkyeFp1j5BzMfzq8ZpLc~QChWRQFad7KLkHJ~oWU7lvhk-uHITY2Hv7BHfY2enJDTJdRDi4qA~So~EEYf80ce1Ebbv-YEXbHKn~zQkQG-u2nadcACn9I2pRAJISQsRn07DRlqmDCjUKWwlTy8eh9OJEX2MxjS8ibiwNxoytGngHaRqntkAeOPZhhUMuAH54Eft-ueFqFJlRmbzkJH8KRZXbLCJEeiZxxdKfZd03WBFEejnNKmwN3K7IBczn6DpJRgmwA7avkjevq9qb~m8405Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Jonesborough Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Monday adopted its fiscal 2025-26 budget, including a property tax rate change, after a night of public comment in which multiple residents urged the board to drop a proposed connector road and to slow or phase tax increases.

The budget vote followed more than an hour of public comments during which residents said the town had not sufficiently consulted neighborhoods over a proposed connector from New Hope Road to the Sweetgrass/Ben Gamble area, and raised concerns about affordability for senior homeowners. \"I created a petition that generated nearly 500 signatures,\" said Chase Blazer, identifying himself as an Air Force veteran and Jonesborough resident. \"There has been little to no outreach on social media, no town halls being held to gauge public opinion.\"

The debate matters because the board explicitly tied the connector to the capital plan in the budget. Residents living in The Meadows and nearby neighborhoods described environmental, safety and property-value concerns if a road were routed through trail and wetland areas. \"It will destroy a section of the trails that are used by many people,\" Carolyn Walsh said, describing walkers, runners and bicyclists who use the path. William Waters, who said he is a professional soil scientist, told the board parts of the trail area are floodplain and raised erosion concerns.

Why it matters: Board members and residents framed the vote around two competing priorities: making investments now to address infrastructure and staff compensation after pandemic-era wage pressure, and protecting neighborhoods and people on fixed incomes from a sudden, large tax increase. Several speakers characterized the town's proposed property tax change as a steep rise; Craig Eustace called the proposal a \"28% tax increase\" and urged more modest, phased increases in the future.

Board response and next steps: Mayor Wolf and Aldermen said they would increase community engagement. \"We will have to invest in community engagement,\" Alderman Dixon said during discussion. When asked on the record whether the board would meet with The Meadows and other neighborhoods about the connector, Alderman Dixon replied, \"I will ensure that.\" Mayor Wolf described the budget as a response to market conditions that have required higher employee pay and said the board had worked through multiple workshops to reach the proposal.

What happened at the meeting: After public comment and discussion, the board approved the fiscal-year budget and the related ordinances establishing water, sewer and other rates and the property tax rate for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. One board member recorded a \"no\" on the budget adoption; the motion carried. The board also directed ongoing study and community outreach on the intersection and connector concepts rather than advancing an immediate construction plan.

Context and background: Town staff and board members said the town has studied budgets and held workshops since April; staff cited inflationary pressure and recruitment/retention issues during and after the COVID-19 period as drivers for the proposed revenue adjustments. Several speakers asked for targeted relief for older residents on fixed incomes; board members said they would review options and consider additional community engagement and outreach before firming any construction schedule for a connector road.

Residents' concerns in brief: Multiple speakers asked the board to remove the connector from this budget cycle or fund only feasibility and traffic studies rather than construction. Nicholas Santiago, a resident who said he supports a small-business downtown and is on a single income, said a large tax increase would be \"extremely extensive\" for households like his. Several speakers urged the board to use impact fees, developer contributions or phased increases rather than a single large tax hike.

What the board said about transparency: Board members acknowledged gaps in outreach. \"We will do a better job,\" one alderman said, and encouraged residents to attend upcoming budget workshops where staff will review line items. The board also noted that a state-mandated reappraisal in the county had affected assessed values and that Jonesborough had previously reduced its rate to mirror state guidance during that process.

Looking ahead: The board approved the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. Officials said they will pursue additional neighborhood engagement around the connector concept and traffic at the New Hope/Ben Gamble area, and they invited residents to attend budget workshops to examine specific spending lines in detail.","The Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the town's fiscal 2025-26 budget and property tax rate after public comment raising concerns about a proposed connector road through The Meadows and calls for more transparency on spending and protections for older residents.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Jonesborough approves liquor licenses, street plan, code changes and FY26 rates

Jonesborough adopts annual budget with tax increase after public opposition to proposed connector road