Spring Hill adopts tax rate, budget and a slate of ordinances; board approves multiple contracts and agreements

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Spring Hill on June 2 approved the city's tax rate and annual budget for fiscal 2025'26 and approved a package of ordinances, resolutions and contracts during a regularly scheduled meeting.

The board adopted the tax-rate ordinance on its second and final reading and approved the annual budget (Ordinance 25-12 and Ordinance 25-13). The budget ordinance was amended on the floor to add $60,000 to fund the Spring Hill Welcome Center with the Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce. Vice Mayor Linville moved the amendment; Alderman Murray seconded it. The motion and the amended budget passed by a 7-0 vote.

Board members also gave second-and-final reading approval to Ordinance 25-14, which amends sections of the Unified Development Code, and they approved a number of other measures on consent or by separate vote: resolution items on the Neighborhood Sidewalk Program and an engagement agreement with Sharon O. Jacobs, PLLC were approved on the consent agenda. A professional services agreement for on-call plan review was approved after the board accepted red-line contract revisions submitted by Mr. Carter; that amendment also passed 7-0.

Other actions taken include: - First reading approval of Ordinance 25-11 to establish a water drought management plan (first reading passed 7-0). - Approval of Resolution 25-141 to enter a memorandum of understanding with Columbia State Community College for an internal fire department EMT training program (passed 7-0). - Approval of Resolution 25-142 to fund the Spring Hill Welcome Center from tourism budget funds (passed 7-0). - First reading approval of Ordinance 25-15 (fourth amendment to the FY24-25 budget) and Resolution 24-143 revising the authorized positions schedule; the authorized-strength resolution was amended to remove five police officer positions before passage (amendment approved 7-0; resolution approved 7-0 as amended). - First reading approval of rezoning Ordinance 25-16 (RZN 1790925) to rezone ~1.8 acres to rural residential and first reading approval of Ordinance 25-17, a text amendment adding a "heavy retail" use with related standards (both first readings passed 7-0). - Approval of Resolution 25-144 to amend the contract with V3 for co-managed information-technology services (passed 7-0).

City staff told the board that a portion of the budget adjustment reflects removal of budgeted bond proceeds that were not borrowed; Miss Holden said the original water/sewer fund revenue in the adopted budget had included more than $20 million in bond proceeds that the city did not issue, which reduced that fund's projected revenue and produced an apparent fund-balance hit that the amendment addresses.

Mr. Carter summarized several red-line contract revisions the board approved for the on-call plan-review services: he said he removed assignment language that would permit assignment without the city's approval, struck indemnity provisions he said would be unlawful for the city to accept as written, added notice provisions to include the city administrator and city attorney, removed mandatory arbitration language, and clarified venue would be in Murray County courts. Carter also noted an auto-renew clause was acceptable because the contract is short-term with 90-day termination.

Votes at a glance (all results reported by the board at the meeting): - Ordinance 25-12 (second/final reading, tax rates for FY 7/1/2025'6/30/2026): approved, 7-0. - Ordinance 25-13 (second/final reading, annual budget for FY 2025'26) as amended to add $60,000 for the Spring Hill Welcome Center (line code noted during the meeting as 140 (472) 105-2552): approved, 7-0. - Ordinance 25-14 (second/final reading, UDC amendments, Articles 8, 11, 15): approved, 7-0. - Resolution 25-140 (professional services agreement for on-call plan review) as amended to incorporate red-line revisions described by Mr. Carter: approved, 7-0. - Ordinance 25-11 (first reading, water drought management plan): first reading approved, 7-0. - Resolution 25-141 (MOU with Columbia State Community College for EMT program): approved, 7-0. - Resolution 25-142 (fund Spring Hill Welcome Center from tourism funds): approved, 7-0. - Ordinance 25-15 (first reading, fourth amendment to FY24-25 budget): first reading approved, 7-0. - Resolution 24-143 (adopt revised schedule of authorized positions) as amended (remove five police officer positions): amendment and resolution approved, 7-0. - Ordinance 25-16 (first reading, rezoning to rural residential of ~1.8 acres): first reading approved, 7-0. - Ordinance 25-17 (first reading, add heavy retail use/design standards): first reading approved, 7-0. - Resolution 25-144 (contract amendment with V3 for co-managed IT services): approved, 7-0.

Why it matters: Adoption of the tax rate and budget sets the city's revenues and spending plan for the coming fiscal year and authorizes near-term programs and capital line items, including tourism-funded projects such as the Welcome Center. The UDC and zoning actions affect future development reviews and the set of uses allowed in specified project areas.

What the board directed next: Staff said the second reading for some land-use items (for example the Eastport Farms related matters) will be scheduled so that related items move together on the same future agenda; Miss Sanders also said she will meet with the Industrial Development Board's legal counsel to determine any next steps or necessary coordination on the planned development and the TIF basis.

No votes failed at the meeting. Several items were approved on first reading only and will return for final reading where noted.