[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6566496,"mediaKeyId","3204895-eae8c24d10644eaef051e84efabe437e","parentId",3204895,"title","Council advances FY2025–26 budget on first reading after extended pay-study briefing and debate","audioSeconds",906,"startMs",1758000,"endMs",2664000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204895-eae8c24d10644eaef051e84efabe437e&start=1758&end=2664","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204895-eae8c24d10644eaef051e84efabe437e/thumbnail_1758000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6566496/Gallatin-City/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Council-advances-FY202526-budget-on-first-reading-after-extended-pay-study-briefing-and-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566496-110580549e1e2b43a4bff1049712f3a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506254&Signature=GxAcoZNeWvVNwxVJ4ZLmDcIoAQrRik~RVeb0xAtIo8tdYu0dZocaDe8q2~Gl7XuPu~aWVSDYQQWDh5~GQQ6ShiHCv1aTnTOxE2Y0YkB72LerToqyzbCQvjhKNk8ocT-D2hOmbXiroDckqCI3PvsYJBaeIHaiZ--95lRK8Zsgal4CQpxA5R9GFD93WCysHChxV9jQeHzQA71QquyHVh48PmypKrC5Z6QhW9XcidA5EYwp8CMX~FQzbAVcoLS0WkmUpI19NLVLWHoysH1LeYng-C8c6-0amsBo7Jdc~7qJ5boU~h1oGVo4Wu5ktM0gPvubBQRT4lbl3RQEyY7G4z9-ug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gallatin City, TN","date","2025-05-07T00:00:00Z","article","Gallatin City Council on May 6 held an extended discussion of the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget and the personnel pay-study that accompanies it, advancing the ordinance on first reading and requesting additional detail before a second reading.

Vice Mayor Hayes moved the budget ordinance (02505-29) for first reading and a city staff presenter delivered a summary of the pay-study and the proposed compensation structure. The pay package before the council included a five-step grade structure with 2.5% between steps, a baseline budgeted 3% pool plus a $1.00-per-hour component staff said department heads could apply in varying combinations to balance merit and cost-of-living adjustments.

Staff (presenter): “The pay scale is comprised of five steps per grade representing minimum requirements to position to proficiency... we have budgeted for 3% plus a dollar per hour. That is where the department heads would have discretion to use some merit influence.”

Councilmembers asked numerous questions about how employees who already exceed five steps would be treated, how often evaluations would be conducted, and what safeguards would exist to prevent inconsistent application among departments. Several members said they supported merit-based rewards but asked for clearer evaluation metrics, a gatekeeping or appeal process and examples of how the $1.00/hour element would be applied.

Councilmember questions focused on timing of step movement (annual versus more frequent), whether the dollar-per-hour allotment could be treated as a recurring salary element rather than a one-time bonus (and the tax/benefit consequences of each approach), and whether signing or training incentives would require reimbursement clauses if an employee departed early. Staff said they are updating evaluation forms to be department-specific and plan to provide an explicit matrix tying performance scores to percentage or step increases.

Vice Mayor Hayes said the budget had received feedback from department heads and that the administration had made several small adjustments; the ordinance was moved on first reading and advanced for later consideration. During the first-reading vote an abstention was recorded; staff committed to returning a more detailed pay-plan packet and an updated personnel rules recommendation before the next reading.

Ending: Council directed staff to return with a written pay-plan, sample evaluation matrices and a detailed explanation of how the proposed merit allocations would be administered and appealed. The budget will return for a second reading with the requested materials.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Gallatin 2025-05-07","oneSentenceSummary","Council advanced the proposed FY2025–26 budget on first reading after staff presented a new five-step pay structure and a merit-based approach beyond step five; councilmembers requested further details on evaluation metrics, distribution safeguards and training incentives.","taxTitle","Gallatin City , Sumner County, Tennessee","taxId",52803,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6566501,"Council passes solid-waste fee amendment after debate over resource authority rates and ordinance limits",156,912000,1068000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204895-eae8c24d10644eaef051e84efabe437e&start=912&end=1068","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204895-eae8c24d10644eaef051e84efabe437e/thumbnail_912000.jpg","/articles/6566501/Gallatin-City/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Council-passes-solid-waste-fee-amendment-after-debate-over-resource-authority-rates-and-ordinance-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566501-2fc2fe716d8e3057b51a9fb4f5c36244/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506254&Signature=BePTMKamNQIcu4eFs1vuULe3SrmFTHNmi1GKggX4QThn8JRWxDj5m-itOz-qsO7pJYGu-VB5WixLPlnIeJZ3WeKG~ro-FMfffUGXdWbaaWuPt3LE5z7KnDvSgCNyUiEHqUvr6pl0-zjbfPPhhU9BV5YI32500nJwLsaeF3YfvCDHPF9cXgPxoxmecAy6D5CP0bpzdZy3GbO8gxcuUIIc6AvABfcUzgZLC4pkvok0Yew4ncjSsLDM58guZf5c~mO-S~jCtYkfoFFycLbpdJijc4OmlrbWBGJmasBnPzCKsocFa-RQ7JGYH0ReC095F7iS~-umJw5m-ivQq9Mgfuc8jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gallatin City Council voted May 6 to approve an amendment to the city’s solid-waste code (Gallatin Municipal Code ch. 14 §14.9) adjusting collection services and fees after extended discussion about how regional Resource Authority fees are set and the limits of the city’s ordinance.

The debate centered on whether the Resource Authority can increase what it charges the city absent an update to the municipal ordinance that fixes a maximum rate. Councilman Gervontz said constituents were upset about a proposed raise and asked whether the resource authority had sufficient reserves to delay any increase.

Councilman Gervontz: “My constituents are not happy about that raise... I would like to know is how much money the resource authority have in a bank and if they can keep the rate... at least for one more year, until the economy gets better.”

Mayor Paige Brown and other councilmembers responded that some cost increases stem from charges passed through from Smith County and that the city does not have an immediate alternative provider. The mayor said the city expects Resource Authority representatives to provide updated numbers and noted the existing ordinance establishes a maximum rate the authority may charge the city. \"Until that is passed, the resource authority technically cannot raise a rate to the city of Gallatin. That's black and white,\" a councilmember said during debate.

Council members pressed for clarity on who must change the maximum rate — an ordinance change by the council or an agreement among multiple jurisdictions — and asked staff to work with the Resource Authority to get Smith County’s fee updates. Staff said the Resource Authority had indicated it would bring updated figures once Smith County finalized its numbers.

The ordinance (02504-24) was moved by Councilman Jones and seconded by Councilman Fennell and was approved on second reading. Councilmembers directed staff to follow up with the Resource Authority and report back with the authority’s current reserves and the fee schedule that will drive the July implementation.

Speakers in the discussion included Councilman Gervontz, Mayor Paige Brown and Councilman Alexander; no Resource Authority representative was present at the meeting. The council’s vote on the ordinance was recorded as passing on second reading; staff and the authority will coordinate next steps for implementation and public information.

Ending: Council requested that Resource Authority financial details and Smith County updates be provided to the council before the July implementation date so the council and residents can review the basis for the new collection fees.","Gallatin’s council approved a change to municipal code on solid-waste collection fees while members pressed for accounting from the regional Resource Authority and clarity on the ordinance that sets a maximum rate.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":44,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":50,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6566506,"Gallatin council approves multiple ordinances on second readings, advances budget and development items",3022,4780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204895-eae8c24d10644eaef051e84efabe437e&start=1758&end=4780","/articles/6566506/Gallatin-City/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Gallatin-council-approves-multiple-ordinances-on-second-readings-advances-budget-and-development-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566506-b870fd301e8d071fccf035f7a908af2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770506254&Signature=nJ5LoJo~8J9N53Ol-Z~vkT4MmabYqiVrapG5Ty4I9UDLPiGhrgCTlnpcngYcogAOHeom4B-XVf~FVdAwZ6s0fQP35igzrn4mdZnhlJnL5MeGRICgcPKJQJlD6UaCOTG2oybnnsEmCZFdJbg9rKRd6UHnZl4GGXwGTeXXdNV-pApb9RzXFS1wOdX~g1SV8VE0GAWI1eN1RvMXvS~otiDiEMpc2z~5hpb8EQTnler6iw~uq2lqRbPo2Gp6OqSY93DxXf7eqBes9xEApRPtwADXE0vChfoW52nGWQPEJzkVYEvTNCEuzdV3vrhY2qMPrM~j-k705457aNP1i5dndzRSWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gallatin City Council on May 6 approved several ordinances on second reading, advanced several first-reading funding measures and took administrative votes on outside applications.

The actions collectively included appropriations for state training supplements and capital projects, a municipal revenue ordinance to cover the 2025 tax year and the 2026 fiscal year (to return for a required third reading with a final tax rate inserted), an amendment to the city’s solid-waste code and a first reading of the city’s proposed FY2025–26 budget and pay structure. Council also deferred a set of TriStar Energy applications to the council’s next meeting and issued a certificate of compliance enabling a retail liquor application to proceed to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

The council opened the meeting with roll call and routine business, then moved through a series of ordinance readings and votes. On second reading, the council unanimously approved an ordinance appropriating $189,600 received from the state of Tennessee for training supplements (Ordinance 02504-22). The council also advanced Ordinance 02504-23, the revenue ordinance that will be finalized on third reading once the city’s certified rate is inserted; members reiterated the budget is being developed on a revenue-neutral basis.

Also on second reading the council approved an ordinance amending Gallatin Municipal Code chapter 14 (solid waste collection services and fee) after extended discussion about the source of cost increases and the role of the regional resource authority. The council approved a separate appropriation of $100,000 from the general fund unassigned balance (Ordinance 02504-25) after councilmembers discussed cost impacts related to recent building-code changes; the ordinance passed on second reading unanimously. The council took first readings and advanced appropriations that included $500,000 for the Hale Avenue extension (Ordinance 02504-26) and $35,000 to repay West Easton Street (Ordinance 02504-27); both passed on first reading.

A proposed city budget ordinance for fiscal year 2025–26 (Ordinance 02505-29) was presented and discussed at length, including an extended presentation of a new pay structure and pay-study results. The council held its first reading and voted to advance the budget; an abstention was noted during the vote. Staff said the proposal includes a five-step grade structure with merit-based movement beyond step five, a baseline 3% budgeted pool and an added $1.00/hour element that department heads could apply in different ways. Councilmembers asked for additional detail on evaluation timing, safeguards for equitable distribution, and the mechanics of training-related incentives.

On other business the council voted to defer four TriStar Energy applications to the council’s next meeting so the applicant could provide an on-site representative. The council also approved a certificate of compliance allowing Michael Hen, doing business as Savannah Spirits LLC, to proceed to the Tennessee ABC board to obtain a retail liquor license for 2153–31 E. Highway; the record shows five votes in favor, one abstention and no votes against.

Councilmembers and members of the public used the non-agenda public comment period to raise concerns about transparency and the City Hall redevelopment discussion. Residents pressed for public meetings and clearer numbers related to any proposed redevelopment plans; the mayor and several councilmembers said more information is forthcoming and that developer meetings have begun in the preliminary phase.

Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 02504-22 (appropriation, state training supplements, $189,600): approved on second reading; motion by Councilman Gervontz, second by Councilman Carter; passed unanimously.
- Ordinance 02504-23 (municipal revenue ordinance for tax year 2025 / fiscal year 2026): approved on second reading; third reading to include final rate before adoption.
- Ordinance 02504-24 (amend Gallatin Municipal Code ch. 14, solid waste collection services and fee): approved on second reading after extended discussion about resource authority fees and ordinance limits; motion by Councilman Jones, second by Councilman Fennell; passed unanimously.
- Ordinance 02504-25 (appropriation $100,000 from general fund unassigned fund balance): approved on second reading; passed unanimously.
- Ordinance 02504-26 (appropriation $500,000 for Hale Avenue extension): passed on first reading.
- Ordinance 02504-27 (appropriation $35,000 to repay West Easton Street): passed on first reading.
- Ordinance 02505-29 (annual budget for FY2025–26): passed on first reading and advanced; an abstention was noted during the vote. Staff will return for second reading with additional documentation and the updated pay plan.
- TriStar Energy applications: deferred to next council meeting pending applicant representation (motion by Councilman Alexander; second by Councilman Givants).
- Certificate of compliance for Savannah Spirits LLC (retail liquor application, 2153–31 E. Highway): approved; vote recorded as 5 in favor, 1 abstention, 0 against.

What’s next
The revenue ordinance will return for a required third reading with the final tax rate inserted. The proposed budget will return for at least one more reading during which staff said updated pay-plan materials and any budget-line adjustments will be provided. The council scheduled the deferred TriStar items for the next regular meeting so the company may supply a representative. Public outreach and additional detail on a proposed City Hall redevelopment were raised as follow-up items by residents and councilmembers.

Speakers (selected) referenced in this roundup: Mayor Paige Brown; Vice Mayor Hayes; Councilman Gervontz; Councilman Carter; Councilman Jones; Councilman Fennell; Councilman Alexander; Staff member (presenter).","At its May 6 meeting the Gallatin City Council passed several ordinances on second reading, advanced multiple first-reading appropriations and deferred outside applications pending applicant representation; a proposed FY2026 budget and personnel pay-study framework advanced on first reading amid extended discussion.","actionData","errors"]

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Council advances FY2025–26 budget on first reading after extended pay-study briefing and debate

Council passes solid-waste fee amendment after debate over resource authority rates and ordinance limits

Gallatin council approves multiple ordinances on second readings, advances budget and development items