Bristol council approves budget ordinance on first reading, sets tax rate at $1.87; public speakers warn of hardship

Bristol, Tennessee — At a called meeting in June, the Bristol, Tennessee City Council approved Ordinance 25-15 on first reading, a measure to adopt the fiscal year 2026 budget and set the city property tax rate at $1.87 per $100 of assessed value. Finance Director Holly Varon told the council the ordinance “incorporates the $1.87 as the tax rate and totals $154,626,310,” and said the package includes wage increases for police and fire and a 4.7% pay adjustment for other departments.

The ordinance matters because the tax-rate change is estimated to raise roughly $3.8 million in property tax revenue and, as presented, would leave the general fund about $1 million short by the end of fiscal year 2026 if no further changes are made. Councilmembers voted to place the ordinance on the July 8 regular meeting agenda for a required second reading and public hearing.

Council and staff framed the proposed increase as a response to rising personnel and equipment…