Hendersonville finance committee forwards midyear budget amendment after debate over 10% police pay increase

At the Jan. 28 City of Hendersonville Finance Committee meeting, committee members voted to forward Ordinance 2025-02 — a midyear amendment to the fiscal 2025 budget that includes a proposed average 10% pay adjustment for police officers and a 1% cost-of-living increase for all city staff — to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen with no committee recommendation.

The amendment, introduced as a midyear package to capture urgent needs, prompted the meeting’s longest discussion. Mayor Jamie Clary said the city is “really in a crisis situation right now” on police staffing and described the police presence as a key factor in community safety. Finance Director Tamara Ingersoll told the committee staff had reviewed revenues conservatively and sought to avoid a deficit while funding urgent items; she said the amendment draws on multiple funds including general fund, PIP and stormwater where additional revenue is now expected.

Why it matters: committee members and staff said police recruitment and retention drove the proposal. Mayor Clary and others described a pattern of officers leaving for higher pay elsewhere and asked the committee…