[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6201380,"mediaKeyId","3794332-5cd13e6b2809c5b065688cefa4f0be29","parentId",3794332,"title","Firefighters tell Clarksville council starting pay lags peers, urge step plan and retention measures","audioSeconds",744,"startMs",3053000,"endMs",3797000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3794332-5cd13e6b2809c5b065688cefa4f0be29&start=3053&end=3797","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3794332-5cd13e6b2809c5b065688cefa4f0be29/thumbnail_3053000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6201380/Clarksville/Montgomery-County/Tennessee/Firefighters-tell-Clarksville-council-starting-pay-lags-peers-urge-step-plan-and-retention-measures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201380-7355116f319f7aa7f8b0e7f7808225c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158731&Signature=SpXAtPqRn9LsgAaKppyF4xgMIxOyzwMN2QOYiHWvsfkoxNvbW0~Ky9SHUJI0mNSXKACq-GtoREl3wYBvV~~P5AOrclajqOvRBzxl7GdvP0p1EHY8V6iZEo1CsG-34L2OMm1FMV9NKQvf6YnNgXC3bgkfdcORLB~aaOV2uHQlkOynFcMai~roGp60KStaQ--CEWsbXdYLKiOBzazztl8QLi~so4j2E16TvTwza5wC2sX5JwYmiNHFWAoTsSfCzJ6UFv9qOHrqG5wOeM-0B6tfVHH-XGh13cxJg1OFIOM38HEPrCMBuN302B5NPC398PflZHRJvYq7WoB~P7CuEu2EAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Clarksville, TN","date","2025-06-12T19:52:09Z","article","Three public speakers urged the Clarksville City Council to address firefighter pay during the June 12 work session, saying starting salaries lag neighboring jurisdictions and that low pay is harming recruitment and retention.

Jesse Snyder, president of Local 3180 and a Clarksville firefighter of nearly 30 years, told the council many younger firefighters are struggling financially and asked officials to “just take into consideration” a step plan or other pay adjustments. “Retention and recruitment … is going to be because the other departments around us are offering more,” Snyder said, and asked the council and mayor to meet with firefighters on the issue.

Owen James, who identified himself as a Clarksville firefighter, presented salary comparisons he said were drawn from internet sources. James said Clarksville’s starting firefighter pay is $43,811 (about $15.89 per hour) and a certified firefighter’s starting pay is $45,000. He compared those figures with nearby municipalities, saying Dixon starts at about $54,001, Murfreesboro at roughly $56,883 (uncertified), Franklin at $55,000, Goodlettsville at $56,000 and Brentwood in the mid‑$50,000s, and said the differences in starting pay range from roughly 22% to nearly 30% higher than Clarksville’s starting pay.

Josh Gillette, a 20‑year veteran and former special‑forces service member, urged the council to prioritize pay for firefighters over other municipal spending. “If you invested in those who serve, you're just not protecting lives. You're protecting the soul of the community,” Gillette said, and criticized what he described as silence from leaders on firefighter compensation.

No specific salary ordinance or council motion was proposed during public comment. Council members did not take formal action on firefighter pay during the work session; the budget presentation that preceded public comment included a 2.5% general wage increase and listed eight new hires for the fire department in the proposed budget.

Speakers asked the council to engage in further discussion with firefighters and consider a step pay plan and other measures to align Clarksville’s starting pay with regional peers.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council - Special Work Session - June 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Three public commenters — including the president of Local 3180 and two firefighters — urged the council to raise starting pay and implement a step plan to improve recruitment and retention, citing regional pay comparisons and the impact on firefighters' families.","taxTitle","Clarksville, Montgomery County, Tennessee","taxId",4858,"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},6201384,"Clarksville releases FY‑26 budget proposal, officials cite $0.15 tax‑rate increase to close shortfall",2598,73000,2671000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3794332-5cd13e6b2809c5b065688cefa4f0be29&start=73&end=2671","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3794332-5cd13e6b2809c5b065688cefa4f0be29/thumbnail_73000.jpg","/articles/6201384/Clarksville/Montgomery-County/Tennessee/Clarksville-releases-FY26-budget-proposal-officials-cite-015-taxrate-increase-to-close-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201384-311b3156176a7e670c4050755ffefe3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158731&Signature=Ye-or1muNu3KMtdcwXE186-cJR-y3wzzyeagMrtDV6SDptN3OylhrZOqEkd~7gzKRLk6yDd~Kh~C7AeRO6lRWUyuWDGA26zk5R53kdIwnOUBc1tzbVUKIta~qtU~sh5A0OdVWNTC0pDW3Xo9~vBR6jennfnJhD~dRnYGTI9VYrJ48Cn4zNV4gxZ3JZBoRgbk5bX0bGVFAWn0~MEqLqOjAkj-HOSzpVyd8gxqK7bfWhXaN514RZauAP929RSz-ir7BwGJF2E3llXo8wlAzxyQjhT27BGUddwTk~Oe0SQ9vuGWPl5m21v-YYAl9NBm4PQ7qfmCplxEyIELpM6YT4rKAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lori Mata, former city chief financial officer, presented the Clarksville City Council with a draft fiscal year 2026 budget at a June 12 work session, outlining a citywide budget of about $950,200,000 across all funds and a proposed 15‑cent increase in the property tax rate to close an estimated shortfall.

Mata said the city’s general fund revenue is projected at $169,300,000 and general‑fund expenditures at $170,100,000, with general‑fund departmental spending at about $145,000,000 and $25,100,000 budgeted for transfers and other entity funding. She described the city’s fund‑balance policy as a target of 20% of general‑fund expenditures (about $34,000,000) and said that, after a set of FY‑25 adjustments, the projected ending fund balance would increase by nearly $4,200,000.

The nut of the presentation, Mata said, was that without a tax‑rate increase projected revenues would total roughly $162,400,000 and leave a nearly $8,000,000 shortfall. “A tax rate increase is always the mayor and my last resort,” Mata said, adding that an 88‑cent rate “is not sustainable for a community our size.” Councilman Smith later described the resulting rate as rising to about $1.03 per $100 of assessed value if the 15‑cent increase is adopted.

Mata reviewed how the budget was prepared: departments submitted requests in April, the five‑year capital improvement plan began in mid‑February and will be considered at the June 17 meeting, and the budget summary was published in the local newspaper on June 5 as required by state law and the city charter. She noted the council must pass a budget by June 30 to maintain normal operations and that the ordinance and capital projects would be on the June 24 reading and vote calendar.

Mata described several FY‑25 amendments and FY‑26 assumptions: an updated beginning fund balance following the external audit (an increase of nearly $2,100,000), revenue reductions in licenses and permits tied to lower building‑permit receipts, and lower investment income. She said general‑fund departments’ budgets decreased about $2,300,000 in FY‑25 largely because of unfilled positions and turnover, and that the city increased transfers to the ACT authority (hotel‑motel tax) after higher collections than projected.

On benefits and pay, Mata said the budget includes a 2.5% general wage increase for all non‑probationary employees who meet expectations, effective June 28, and that the city will increase its contribution for health and pharmacy coverage by 10% starting in July, bringing the city’s per‑employee monthly contribution to $117. The employee share of health insurance will increase 5% effective Jan. 1, 2026, a change Mata said would amount to roughly $2–$12 per month for covered employees depending on plan selection. She also said the city will absorb the full on‑site clinic cost and remove a prior $5 usage fee; the clinic fee will increase $10 a month but not be passed to employees.

Mata said the general fund will use a portion of the fund balance for one‑time expenses (vehicle replacement and other capital items) but that ongoing expenses should not rely on reserves. She summarized debt and capital plans: general government debt is about $158,100,000, enterprise debt totals about $528,800,000, and the FY‑26 budget includes $30,900,000 of new debt for previously authorized but unissued projects. The citywide budget amount presented, she said, includes enterprise and governmental funds and several internal service funds.

Council members asked clarifying questions. Councilman McLaughlin asked whether FY‑25 actuals would be updated before the vote; Mata said the June close would not be finalized until about July 10, after the scheduled vote. Councilman Zacharias asked whether proceeds from the hotel‑motel tax (set at 2.75%) would cover ACT authority obligations; Mata said the 2.75% rate is producing more revenue than originally budgeted but “is not going to bring enough to cover the debt service to build the performing arts center” and that the ACT authority will need fundraising to fill the gap.

Mata emphasized the certified tax‑rate process and assessment appeals reduce the city’s ability to capture growth in property tax receipts and said that, in past cycles, appeals have reduced expected revenue “by over a million dollars” during certified‑rate calculations. She urged the council to consider the balance among reserves, service needs and borrowing costs when deciding on the proposed rate change.

The council did not take formal action during the work session; the budget ordinances and the capital projects ordinance were provided to members and scheduled for the June 24 reading and a final vote before the June 30 deadline.","City staff presented a proposed FY‑26 budget totaling about $950.2 million across all funds, a general‑fund shortfall the administration says would be largely addressed by a proposed 15‑cent tax‑rate increase (from $0.88 to about $1.03 per $100 of assessed value). Presentation covered fund balances, debt, new hires, and employee benefit changes.","actionData","errors"]

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Firefighters tell Clarksville council starting pay lags peers, urge step plan and retention measures

Clarksville releases FY‑26 budget proposal, officials cite $0.15 tax‑rate increase to close shortfall