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Smyrna council reviews FY2025–26 budget, holds tax rate steady
Summary
At a May town council workshop, Smyrna officials presented the second reading of the fiscal year 2025–26 budget and a separate tax-rate ordinance; staff said the proposed tax rate would remain unchanged from the prior year and a spreadsheet of changes was posted for public review.
At a Smyrna Town Council workshop in May, the council received the second reading of an ordinance adopting the town’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget and a separate ordinance establishing the property tax rate for that year.
Town Finance Director Rex Gaither presented the ordinances and told the council the budget and the tax-rate ordinance were submitted for consideration and that changes since the first reading were summarized in a spreadsheet posted on the town website. Gaither said the budget had been posted and asked the council for approval.
Gaither said the recommended tax rate would remain the same as the prior year: "$52.57 on each $100 of assessed taxable property," as presented to the council at the meeting. He answered members’ questions about the tax-rate ordinance and confirmed the materials had been circulated for review.
The second reading status indicates the council is considering final adoption but the transcript does not record a roll-call vote or final action during the workshop. Council members asked follow-up questions about changes between first and second readings and about the posted spreadsheet.
Gaither also presented proposed year-end budget amendments for FY2025, listing transfers of surplus into the capital project fund and appropriations for items including town manager recruitment, staff development and training, service awards, unforeseen repairs, and several capital projects such as Cedarstone tennis and pickleball improvements and equipment for the fire department.
The council did not record a formal vote in the workshop transcript. Staff said the budget documents and change spreadsheet were available to the public on the town website for review ahead of final action.
