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Murfreesboro council approves FY26 budget ordinances, sets tax rate and new tax due date
Summary
The Murfreesboro City Council approved fiscal year 2026 budget ordinances, a water/sewer rate ordinance and kept the tax rate unchanged while moving the tax due date to align with the county; several budget amendments and fund adjustments were also approved.
The Murfreesboro City Council unanimously approved multiple fiscal measures on second and final readings Tuesday, adopting the fiscal year 2026 appropriations, related budget revisions and a water/sewer rate ordinance, while keeping the city tax rate unchanged and moving the tax due date to align with Rutherford County.
Erin, speaking for finance, outlined revisions to the proposed FY26 ordinance, saying the city revised transfers to the general fund “to match the sports authority and MCIT budgets” and that the airport fund was updated “to recognize an anticipated state grant and the related expenses totaling about $1,800,000.” Erin also told the council the risk management fund was updated to recognize additional operating expenses of about $27,000. Erin recommended approval of the revisions before adopting the ordinance on second reading.
The council approved the fiscal items by roll call votes with all members voting aye. The council approved Ordinance 25‑010 (FY26 appropriation) and Ordinance 25‑017 (FY26 water/sewer rates) on second and final readings. Council also approved the tax-rate ordinance for 2025–26 with no increase, and Ordinance 25‑019 to change the tax due date from Dec. 31 to the same schedule used by the county.
Why it matters: the appropriations and rate ordinances set spending and utility rates for the coming fiscal year and the tax‑due date change affects when residents must pay property taxes. Finance staff said the airport grant and other transfers account for most of the mid‑cycle adjustments presented to the council.
Supporting details and roll calls: council members Miss Aberwater, Miss Gills Harris, Mister Maxwell, Mister Wade, Mister Wright and Mayor McFarland voted aye on the measures when each was called. Finance staff noted that some changes will be reflected in revised ordinance sheets placed at council desks and that additional technical amendments (for example, to debt service transfers) were incorporated prior to the second readings.
The council also approved a set of budget amendment and resolution items packaged together — including amendments for water resources, city schools, the sports authority and the Community Investment Trust — which staff said had been reviewed previously at a May 22 special budget meeting. Several of those budget resolutions were approved separately by unanimous roll calls.
The council instructed city communications staff to notify residents of the new tax due date and the continuing option to pay taxes before the end of the year; Mayor McFarland and Erin noted that City TV and social channels will be used for outreach.
