Lebanon council adopts FY2025–26 budget 4–2; councilors record votes and note salary adjustments and a disclosed conflict

The Lebanon City Council adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 budget and tax rates following a roll-call vote that passed 4–2, council records show.

Budget adoption matters because it sets the city's spending and tax rates for the coming year; council discussion referenced salary adjustments, a 3% cost-of-living increase proposal and concerns about a potential conflict of interest raised by one councilor.

During deliberations Councilor Camille Burdine said she supports employee market-rate raises and a 3% cost-of-living raise but said she would vote against the budget because of what she described as a conflict of interest. Councilor Joy Carmack, Chris Crowell, Tick Bryant and Phil Moorhead voted "yes." Jerry Ashley and Camille Burdine voted "no." The clerk recorded the roll call: Joy Carmack — yes; Jerry Ashley — no; Camille Burdine — no; Chris Crowell — yes; Tick Bryant — yes; Phil Moorhead — yes. The motion passed 4–2.

Councilors praised staff for the budget process. One councilor disclosed a family connection to city employment while saying they would still vote on the budget; that disclosure was made on the record during deliberations. Councilors also remarked they were open to larger merit-based increases where warranted but described the adopted package as aligned with departmental requests.

The council approved the budget on second reading and incorporated salary adjustments and other departmental items as presented by staff; no separate amendment was recorded that changed the final roll-call outcome during the meeting.

The approved budget will take effect with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025; staff and councilors said they would continue to answer employee questions about the adopted pay adjustments.