East Ridge council adopts revenue-neutral tax rate, approves $27.8M budget, raises sanitation fee; awards road and parks bids

The East Ridge City Council on June 22, 2025 set the city’s certified property tax rate at 0.7993 per $100 of assessed valuation, adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget of $27,827,365 and approved a $2 per month increase to the city’s sanitation assessment. The council also accepted a $45‑per‑ton bid for masonry sand to top dress athletic fields at Camp Jordan and awarded a $750,016.13 resurfacing contract for John Ross Road to APAC Atlantic, doing business as Talley Construction.

City Manager David Miller said the tax‑rate change follows a February 2025 reassessment that raised total assessed value for the city from $554,000,000 to $866,000,000. “Whenever the assessments increase, then we have to… decrease the millage the tax rate to be revenue neutral,” Miller said, explaining the proposed 0.7993 rate will generate about $6,788,564 in property taxes — roughly the same revenue as last year.

Miller also summarized highlights of the adopted budget, which proposes a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment for all employees, adds two firefighters effective Jan. 1, 2026, converts two part‑time park attendant positions into one full‑time attendant, and budgets $761,242 for vehicle and equipment replacement. “The total budget for the general operating fund comes out to $27,827,365,” Miller said.

Council votes were unanimous on the major ordinances. The council approved the certified tax rate (Ordinance No. 12‑25), the annual appropriations ordinance (Ordinance No. 12‑26), the sanitation assessment increase (Ordinance No. 12‑27) and an amendment to the fiscal 2025 operating budget (Ordinance No. 12‑28). Council members said the measures are intended to keep services stable without drawing on fund balance; Miller noted the budget projects an unassigned fund balance of just over $9,000,000 at year end.

On procurement matters, Parks & Recreation reported one bid for masonry sand: J.D. Hunt LLC at $45 per ton, a $0.50 increase over last year; the council approved accepting that bid (Resolution No. 3695). A separate resolution (3696) was pulled from the agenda by staff for further review and was not considered. The council then approved awarding the John Ross Road resurfacing contract to APAC Atlantic DBA Talley Construction for $750,016.13; the winning bid exceeded the original project budget by $145,054.63, and staff said the overage would come from the state street aid fund and is budgeted in FY 2025–26.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes, June 12, 2025 — motion approved (mover: Council member Witt; second: Vice Mayor Tyler). Outcome: approved. - Ordinance No. 12‑25 (set property tax rate 0.7993) — motion to approve by Vice Mayor Tyler; second by Council member Ezell. Roll call: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved. - Ordinance No. 12‑26 (annual appropriations, FY 2025–26) — motion to approve by Vice Mayor Tyler; second by Council member Witt. Roll call: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved. - Ordinance No. 12‑27 (increase sanitation special assessment) — motion to approve by Council member Witt; second by Vice Mayor Tyler. Roll call: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved. - Ordinance No. 12‑28 (amend FY 2025 operating budget) — motion to approve by Vice Mayor Tyler; second by Council member Witt. Roll call: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution No. 3695 (accept bid for masonry sand, J.D. Hunt LLC, $45/ton) — motion to approve by Council member Witt; second by Council member Ezell. Roll call: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution No. 3696 — withdrawn from the agenda by staff for further review; scheduled for possible reintroduction July 10. Outcome: postponed/withdrawn. - Resolution No. 3697 (award John Ross Road resurfacing to APAC Atlantic DBA Talley Construction, $750,016.13) — motion to approve by Vice Mayor Tyler; second by Council member Witt. Roll call: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved.

Council and staff clarified a few details during the meeting: the sanitation assessment raises revenues to cover increasing disposal costs (Miller said the city’s transfer‑station tonnage rate rose from about $33/ton to $43.75/ton after bidding), and the John Ross contract originally came in over the project budget but staff indicated funding in the state street aid and FY 2026 budget would cover the difference. Council asked whether the resolution should explicitly name APAC Atlantic in addition to Talley; staff replied the resolution text includes “APAC Atlantic DBA Talley Construction.”

The council closed the meeting after reviewing the tentative agenda for July 10 and hearing brief staff updates.