On June 18, 2025, the Mayor and Council of the City of Lewisburg met in a special called session at Lewisburg City Hall and approved first readings of an ordinance adopting the fiscal year 2025-26 annual budget and setting the 2025 tax rate and of an ordinance amending prior budget ordinances for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

The meeting opened with a resolution establishing citizen input rules and two residents spoke during the public-comment period, urging the council to consider the local impact of any tax increase and to prioritize recruiting industry to support new housing. "The only reason to raise tax is to make the community safer, healthier and better," Jacob Newman said, adding, "The tax raise doesn't make us safer because the cops didn't get the pay raise that the county did, so we're gonna lose police officers." Pauline Whitehead urged economic recruitment and said, "I'm not talking about fast food restaurants. I'm not talking about coffee shops. I'm not talking about donut shops. I'm talking about some real business."

Council action began with item 2A, listed in the agenda as "ordinance 20 five-seven, ordinance adopting the fiscal year 2025-26 annual budget and setting the tax rate for 2025." Councilwoman Michael moved the motion and Councilman Crutcher seconded. During the roll call for 2A, Councilman Crutcher voted aye; Councilwoman Linda Thomas voted no; Councilman Robertson voted yes; Councilman Burns voted no; and Councilwoman Michael voted yes. The motion passed on first reading by a 3-2 vote.

Item 2B, identified on the agenda as "ordinance 25-08, ordinance amending ordinance 24-10, amendment number 2 with budget amendments for fiscal year 2024 and 2025," was moved by Councilman Burns and seconded by Councilwoman Michael. The roll call recorded Councilman Crutcher: aye; Councilwoman Linda Thomas: aye; Councilman Robertson: yes; Councilman Barnes: aye; and Councilwoman Michael: aye. That motion passed on first reading with recorded affirmative votes.

The council read aloud and posted a notice of the special called meeting that included the date and time (Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 2 p.m.) and the meeting location (Lewisburg City Hall, 131 East Church Street). The resolution read at the start of the meeting established citizen-input procedures, including a three-minute time limit per speaker, the requirement to give name and address, and a prohibition on personal attacks and religious comments.

No tax rate amount or dollar figures were stated on the record during the meeting; the ordinances on first reading were approved without an on-the-record specification of the exact tax millage in the public portion of this session. Residents' remarks included specific concerns about police retention tied to pay and an appeal for the council to pursue industrial recruitment to provide jobs that sustain new housing.

The council adjourned following the votes. The first readings mean the ordinances will return for subsequent consideration under the city's normal ordinance-adoption process.