Shelbyville council clears first reading of 2025–26 budget, keeps tax rate unchanged

The Shelbyville Mayor and City Council on May 23 approved the first reading of the city's fiscal year 2025'26 budget ordinance and voted to retain the existing property tax rate.

The vote occurred during a special call meeting held in Council Chambers. Council members cast roll-call votes in favor of the first reading; the clerk recorded unanimous support from the members present.

The first reading includes a proposed operating and capital budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. City staff and the city manager repeatedly told the council this was the ordinance's first reading and that the materials submitted would be populated into the final ordinance documents for subsequent consideration.

Council also took first-reading action on a separate ordinance to finalize amendments to the current fiscal year 2024'25 budget and held a first reading of a resolution that would authorize appropriations to local nonprofit organizations at FY25 levels. The nonprofits listed in the resolution are the Community Tennessee Rehabilitation Center ($25,000), the Shelbyville'Bedford County Public Library ($164,812), and the Senior Citizen Center ($20,000). Council members were told these amounts match the prior year and may be amended during the remaining budget hearings.

No substantive debate or amendments were offered on the floor during the special meeting; the items that passed will return for additional readings and final adoption in the regular budget process.

City officials said further details and any technical amendments will be posted prior to subsequent readings so the council and public can review final text before adoption.