Bartlett board advances budget, tax and salary ordinances and schedules June 9 public hearings

The Bartlett Board of Mayor and Aldermen on May 12 gave first readings to three ordinances — including the city’s FY2027 budget — and set public hearings for June 9, 2026.

City Attorney Ed McKinney, speaking after the clerk read ordinance 26-07, said the amendment would change which body sets salaries for board members and the board chairman. "Right now, the ordinance sets the, salary for the board members and the board chairman, and it has since 2013," McKinney said. He said the proposal would move authority to the school board and that any changes would be approved by resolution following school-board action.

Director of Finance Phoebus presented the first reading of the FY2027 budget ordinance (26-08) and said the budget ordinance "can be amended through the third reading, which will be, June 9." The board approved the first reading of the budget ordinance, 5–1.

Phoebus also presented the first reading of ordinance 26-09 to set the property tax rate for tax year 2026. He said, "The tax rate recommended is dollar 66 which is the same tax rate as we currently have." The board set a public hearing for the tax ordinance and approved the first reading, 5–1.

Earlier in the meeting the board approved the minutes of April 28, 2026 (motion by Vice Mayor Young, second by David Reeves) by a 6–0 vote and passed a seven-item consent agenda (including a permit for the Lane Person Memorial Road Race Series, subdivision contract language, bids for parking and public-safety equipment, cured-in-place lining work, authorization to auction surplus property, and the March 2026 financial report), 6–0.

All three ordinances were advanced as first readings and scheduled for public hearings on June 9, 2026, where the board may consider amendments before subsequent readings and a final vote.