Arlington delays budget adoption after assessor/comptroller discrepancy; board asks staff for work session and ambulance fee analysis

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen on May 5 decided to remove the proposed fiscal year 2025‑26 budget from the agenda after town staff reported unresolved valuation differences between the Shelby County assessor’s office and the state comptroller.

Mrs. Owens, the town’s finance director, told the board staff had been working with both the assessor and the comptroller and recommended pulling the budget because of material valuation discrepancies. “It’s about a $5,000,000 for personal property difference, and about a $6,000,000 for real property,” Owens said, and added that those differences would “change your tax rate completely.” She recommended the board move the first reading to a June 2 work session and hold a second reading June 23 to allow time to reconcile figures.

After discussion the board approved the recommendation to pull the budget and instructed staff to schedule a budget work session. Staff said they would present model scenarios at that work session including (a) the current approach of funding ambulance paramedic service through the general fund and (b) an option that shifts the ambulance cost into a utility/fee structure. The county‑provided ambulance/paramedic cost cited in the discussion was about $622,000 for the town after a recent increase of roughly $176,000 compared with the prior year.

Board members also asked staff to calculate the impact of charging an ambulance fee per household (or per utility account) and to show the net effect on the tax rate. The board asked that staff prepare both presentations (current tax‑funded model and fee‑funded model) for the work session; staff agreed to prepare those scenarios.

Separately, the board agreed to accelerate paving on Milton Wilson Road. Staff said completing the full Forest‑to‑Chester section now would cost an estimated $900,000 to $1,000,000 but would avoid repeated short‑term patching and rising asphalt prices; the board agreed the work should be funded from street‑and‑road reserves rather than the general fund. Staff noted a street aid reserve balance and said some planned bridge items are state‑funded, leaving reserves available for the road.

The board also agreed to set up a budget work session; staff said they will poll members for availability and may use video conferencing to accommodate travel schedules. No budget adoption or tax‑rate vote occurred at the May 5 meeting.

Key clarifying details: assessor/comptroller valuation differences cited by staff: $5,000,000 (personal property) and $6,000,000 (real property); ambulance contract cost cited ~ $622,000 with an increase of ~$176,000 year‑over‑year; Milton Wilson Forest→Chester estimated paving cost $900,000–$1,000,000 to be funded from street/road reserves. Staff will present modeled tax vs. fee scenarios at the scheduled work session prior to a June reading.