Gallatin mayor unveils FY2025–26 budget; proposes five-step pay plan, new positions and $30M bond option

Mayor presented a proposed FY2025–26 budget to the Gallatin City Council during the April 22 work session that would increase the operating budget to about $67.2 million, propose a five-step pay plan with market adjustments, add multiple staffing requests and identify a potential $30 million general-obligation bond to fund capital items including a new fire station, equipment and road/sidewalk projects.

The mayor said the proposal is based on a pay-study comparison with peer cities and recommended a five-step progression intended to move a typical employee to full proficiency within five years. The mayor described the plan as a mix of market adjustments, a $0.50 per hour supplement for some employees and step increases averaging 2.5 percent annually; the administration estimated the immediate budgetary impact of the pay-plan changes at roughly $2 million.