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Pre-budget commenters list priorities: skate parks, animal-control, libraries, worker pay and schools
Summary
At the council's pre-budget public comment hearing, residents and employees urged investments in recreational facilities, spay/neuter services, library collections, COLA for Metro employees, and full funding for Metro Nashville Public Schools.
A cross-section of Nashville residents used the council’s pre-budget public comment period on Feb. 4 to press the Metropolitan Council to fund local priorities ranging from skate parks and spay/neuter services to library acquisitions and Metro employee pay increases.
Skate parks: East Nashville shop owner Luke Ansell and other skaters asked the council to build more skate parks across Nashville. "We have an abundance of beautiful parks in our city, and I believe every single one of them deserves a new skate park," Ansell said, adding that the existing 2 Rivers Skate Park is nearly 20 years old and not beginner friendly.
Animal care and spay/neuter: Speakers described Metro Animal Care and Control as overcapacity and urged funding for affordable spay/neuter services and a new shelter. "Because of this, dumping animals is in an unprecedented high," said Lisa Watwood, who asked the council to fund mobile spay/neuter options for low-income neighborhoods.
Libraries and the arts: The Nashville Public Library's collection budget drew multiple pleas. Testimony from librarians and patrons asked the council to expand the materials budget (currently $4.4 million) to meet demand for ebooks and audiobooks and to reach parity with peer systems. "We lag behind our peer cities even though we've built our name on the arts," said Christine Hall, who asked the council to dedicate 1 percent of the combined Metro budget to the arts.
Public employees, schools and pay: Current Metro workers and MNPS support staff urged a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and other pay changes. Doreka Mitchell, an Emergency Communication Center dispatcher, and Donna Clay, an MNPS support staffer and SEIU member, said pay and staffing shortfalls affect service delivery and employee retention.
Other asks: Speakers also supported continuation of the IDEA pilot program for indigent-defense counsel, funding for youth programs and restorative justice pilots, and a range of transit, climate and childcare items promoted by the Shift coalition.
Council response and next steps: The council received the comments; many speakers’ requests were identified as priorities for FY26 budget deliberations. No votes were taken during public comment. Council staff noted that interpretation services were provided in Spanish for hearings.
