Livingston Aldermen approved the fiscal year 2026-27 budget and a property tax increase during a Monday meeting.
Mayor Lori Elder Burnett said the approved budget includes a five-cent property tax increase to help the city manage escalating expenses.
“I would love not to do that too, but like we say, everything is, it is, everything that we do right now is a lot more expensive, and even just what we had to increase with our Tennessee Consolidated Retirement this year, an increase of 2.77% is costing the city $72,000,” Burnett said.
Alderman Arno Proctor said the city should form a committee consisting of department heads and council members to identify ways to reduce the cost of existence for the municipality. Proctor said that while city employees deserve raises, residents on fixed pensions are being impacted.
“I’d be happy if you would consider that and see what we could do because it takes a lot of money, and I’m one of those, I got a private pension and I’ve been retired a long time, but it has dropped in purchasing power 25 percent,” Proctor said. “So everything’s higher and we need to see if we cannot reduce our expenses or increase our revenue, although we don’t control too much of our revenue except property taxes, see if we can’t find some way to reduce the cost for next year to where we don’t have to even consider giving a property tax increase.”
Alderman Lance Ruble said the city needs to scrutinize its payscale and staffing levels before replacing employees who leave their positions.
“I had some telephone calls, these people out there that has their neighbors pay their taxes because they can’t afford it,” Ruble said. “I mean, if you take a $16 employee, and I’m not saying everybody needs to work, so don’t take this the wrong way, time you pay your payroll tax and your wages, one employee will cost this city roughly $44,000 to $50,000.”
Alderman Bill Linder said the city should avoid placing additional financial burdens on elderly residents who are struggling with rising costs.
“I know everything costs more this year than it did last year, but it also costs the taxpayer,” Linder said. “I had a 93-year-old lady call me and said, ‘You know, are you going to put more on me?’ And, you know, what do you tell her? So I mean, I can probably make it, but somehow or another, I think the city just needs to suck it up and go with what they got.”
The budget passed with a 3-2 vote, with Alderman David Langford and Alderman Linder voting against the measure. Vice Mayor Rex Dale, Proctor, and Ruble voted in favor of the budget and tax increase.
Burnett said the increase will move the tax rate from 1.13 to 1.18, resulting in an additional $12.50 annually for a property valued at $100,000.
The property tax adjustment represents a 4.4 percent increase for the city. Burnett said the city will hold another called meeting on June 29 to address budget amendments.
