Lewisburg adopts FY2025–26 budget and tax rate after public concerns on services, roads and cemeteries

The mayor and council of the city of Lewisburg voted June 30 to adopt the fiscal year 2025–26 budget and set the city’s tax rate, following public comments that questioned whether the increase would fund more police or fire personnel, cemetery maintenance, road paving and services for people experiencing homelessness.

The vote on the ordinance to adopt the FY2025–26 budget (ordinance 25-07) passed after a motion by Councilwoman Michael and a second from Councilman Crutcher. Councilman Thomas and Councilman Burns voted no; Councilwoman Michael, Councilman Robertson and Councilman Crutcher voted yes.

Why it matters: the ordinance establishes Lewisburg’s spending plan and the municipal tax rate for the coming fiscal year, decisions that determine whether the city expands staffing or infrastructure work that several public commenters said they expected to see funded.

Public comment before the vote focused on transparency and specific services. Ladell Smith, a Lewisburg resident at 726 West Church Street, told the council, “I’m not opposed to taxes,” but said she was “opposed to raising taxes without a plan of specifically where their money is going to go.” Smith asked whether the budget aligns with the city’s five-year plan and whether it will fund “more police officers” or “more fire department or firemen.” She also raised concerns about cemetery maintenance, saying the city previously maintained many sites and now “we only have 2 that’s gonna be taken care of.”

Jacob Newman, of 434 Fourth Avenue South, said, “If we’re not getting more police and more fire, then there’s no reason for more money.” Newman also urged the council to schedule budget discussions at times that working residents can attend and suggested more revenue-generating outreach to businesses and the recreation center rather than relying on taxpayers.

Roxanne Fleming, of 1222 Snell Road, urged fiscal restraint, saying the budget appeared “not balanced” and warned, “The normal person, working person, cannot live off of a credit card forever.”

After the adoption of the FY2025–26 ordinance, council considered a second ordinance (25-08) amending ordinance 24-10 (amendment number 2) with budget changes for FY2024 and FY2025. Councilwoman Michael moved and Councilman Crutcher seconded that amendment; the council approved it unanimously on roll call (Councilman Thomas, Councilman Barnes, Councilman Michael, Councilman Robinson and Councilman Crutcher all voted aye).

City staff explained that the amendment mainly reflects timing changes for delivery and payment of a fire engine. Miss Owens (city staff) told the council the fire engine will be received next month and therefore the city will back out the current-year payment and reappropriate the funds at the start of the next fiscal year. Those funds were originally from the American Rescue Plan Act and are being held in fund balance until reappropriation, the staff explanation said.

Council members discussed the two readings required for the ordinances; the record shows the motions were for approval on second and final readings. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that passed by voice vote.

Less-central concerns raised during public comment included road paving on West Church Street, recurring potholes and grading issues that a resident said have existed “in 30 years,” and a brief memory of a bridge repair on “Lease Commerce Street” for which a speaker said the contractor paid a penalty for late work and the city did not complete a related local bridge fix. Commenters also questioned whether recent housing construction had been reflected in revenue projections. The council did not adopt any separate direction in the public record to change cemetery maintenance, homelessness services or street-repair schedules during this meeting.

The council adjourned after completing the votes; no additional follow-up actions or deadlines were stated on the record during this special-call meeting.