Red Bank commission approves first reading of 2025–26 budget that signals intent to exceed certified tax rate

The Red Bank Board of Commissioners approved first reading of the city’s fiscal 2025–26 budget on May 20 while staff and commissioners debated wording that staff says signals an intent to exceed the state’s certified tax rate to capture an estimated 5% increase in property‑tax revenue.

City Manager Granham told the commission the formal budget packet required by the Tennessee Comptroller "bakes in" a 5% increase in property tax revenue and that the packet includes the statement that "the governing body does intend to exceed the certified tax rate." The packet item cited by staff shows a local‑taxes line of $8,239,080 and, according to staff discussion, the added property‑tax projection increases the property‑tax line by roughly $262,000 over the prior estimate.

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