Clarksville council adopts several first-reading budget ordinances but fails to pass governmental funds budget

The Clarksville City Council on a special-session night gave first readings to a series of budget ordinances but failed to approve the city’s governmental funds budget after extended debate and votes on dozens of member amendments.

The council moved quickly through a set of first readings early in the meeting: Ordinance 84 (amending FY2025–26 and adopting FY2026–27 operating and capital budgets), Ordinance 85 (2026–27 annual action plan including CDBG and HOME funds), Ordinance 86 (Clarksville Gas and Water Department budgets), Ordinance 87 (internal service funds), Ordinance 88 (Clarksville Parking Commission proprietary fund), and Ordinance 89 (Clarksville Transit System). Each passed first reading on roll-call votes noted on the record as 13 yes, 0 no.

The most contested item, Ordinance 90 — which would adopt the governmental funds budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 — produced sustained debate. Councilman Streetman asked the finance staff to explain contingency steps if the council failed to adopt a budget by June 30. “According to city code, if there's no budget passed by June 30th, we will continue to meet until there is one,” Miss Wilcox told the council. She said the city would operate at FY2026 spending levels until a new budget is adopted, that operating and salary payments can continue, and that capital expenditures over $5,000 would be restricted until the budget is passed. She cautioned that if the budget is not passed within two months the city would be unable to issue new debt.

Council members debated the order for considering numerous ward-level amendments and then spent hours reviewing dozens of line-item proposals. Several amendments proposed cuts to staffing requests, vehicles, IT projects and nonpersonnel accounts. Some reductions were adopted: for example, a Streetman amendment to remove duplicate fleet-tracking costs passed 9–4. Other amendments failed. Councilman Streetman also proposed a conservative property-tax-rate change (reflecting adopted amendments and a buffer to preserve a 17% unrestricted fund balance) that the council approved 10–3; Miss Wilcox said the adjustment left room for outstanding items including a pending parking-commission matter.

After voting on the package of adopted amendments and the ordinance as amended, the council failed to pass Ordinance 90 on final vote, with the clerk recording 2 yes, 11 no. With that outcome, the city remains operating under its current budget pending further council action; members discussed reconvening and noted the statutory and practical risks of not adopting a budget on time.

Council members and department heads repeatedly framed the meeting as an effort to balance service-level priorities against taxpayer concerns. Council members pressed department chiefs about training, fleet and equipment requests; police and fire chiefs described prioritization plans and said mandated training would continue even when some discretionary training items were reduced.

The council vote leaves the city without a finalized FY2026–27 governmental funds budget and sets up additional meetings or a second-reading session. Mayor and council members urged continued work with department heads and cautioned that some capital actions and new debt would be restricted until a budget is adopted.