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Cookeville council approves first readings of FY2027 budget ordinances and advances tax levy; council outlines $244 million plan
Summary
The Cookeville City Council approved first readings of FY2027 budget ordinances — including a tax-levy reading and an appropriations ordinance for nonprofits — and heard a detailed presentation showing total city appropriations (including utilities) above $244 million and targeted pay adjustments and capital projects.
Cookeville Mayor Wheaton presided over a June 4 meeting where city finance staff presented and the council approved first readings of multiple budget ordinances that together lay out the city’s fiscal year 2027 spending plan.
Finance presenter Nyslonda summarized the package and the headline numbers: "The total appropriations for the city, including utilities, is over $244,000,000," she told the council during the presentation of the annual budget. The ordinances considered on first reading included a FY2026 budget amendment, the tax-levy ordinance for FY2027 and the FY2027 annual budget documents.
Why it matters: the budget includes a $2,000 market adjustment for full‑time employees, targeted merit adjustments, and a modest restructuring that results in three net new full‑time positions across city departments (a utility worker for public works, an EMT for the fire department and a meter installer for water services). The capital program includes more than $30 million in non‑utility projects and additional borrowing is contemplated to fund selected large projects.
Key details presented to the council: the general fund revenues and transfers-in were shown at about $40.9 million, with general-fund appropriations of roughly $45.3 million and a projected fund-balance drawdown of approximately $4.3 million for FY2027. Staff told the council the city is budgeting a $2,000 starting‑pay increase across pay grades and a variety of compensation adjustments intended to address retention and recruitment pressures; health insurance cost projections and a small increase in the TCRS legacy rate were also noted.
On the tax levy, staff explained the city will use the certified tax rate once it becomes available in late June or early July and will round to the nearest penny, which staff said will produce a de minimis change in the penny rate. During the public hearing a member of the public asked whether the council had considered increasing the penny rate to raise additional revenue; council members and staff responded that the city recently adjusted rates and that current projections and expected new retail openings made a larger immediate increase unnecessary.
The council also reviewed an ordinance appropriating $1,051,055 to public-service and nonprofit organizations for FY2027. Staff explained that amount is lower than last year largely because a one‑time airport match appeared in the previous fiscal year, and that a local review committee vetted applications and recommended allocations.
Public participation and next steps: residents asked about the nonprofit application timeline and about public access to hospital and other board meetings; staff directed residents to application procedures and noted several boards hold publicly noticed meetings. Council approved the budget ordinance and related items on first reading by unanimous votes; staff said second readings and final actions will follow the city’s required ordinance schedule once the certified tax rate is available.
The meeting closed the budget portion after a series of votes that carried 5–0 on the first readings presented.
