Crossville city council has approved the third and final reading of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year and approved an unchanged tax rate at 59 cents per $100 of assessed value.
The first version of the budget presented to the council stood at $1.5 million red and with a number of items removed and a few other items added to the budget the final version came in at just over $1.1 million in the red. Because the city has over $12 million in the general fund balance, the city finances are not in the red but the annual expenditures exceed the estimated revenue for the fiscal year.
Crossville City Council, L-R, J.H. Graham, Danny Wyatt,
Mayor James Mayberry, Pamala Harris, and Scot Shanks.
The city's budget shows revenue totaling $19,425,353 and expenses of 20,597,073 with a final deficit for the year of $1,171,720.
Budgeted spending totals for the Police Department stand at $4.1 million, the Fire Department at almost $2.9 million and the street department at almost $2.4 million. Those 3 department's expenditures make up nearly half of the city's general fund budget.
The city's water and sewer budget do not utilize tax funding and their revenue is from the sale of water and sewer service.
The property tax rate of 59 cents, unchanged from the previous year was approved under the consent agenda and the budget was approved unanimously during the meeting. A public hearing on the budget elicited no comments from the citizens.
Council also unanimously approved putting the hotel/motel tax into place on hotels operating within the city limits. This would go on top of the county hotel/motel tax that has been in effect for a number of years. The city adds 2 percent on top of the 7.5 percent tax the county charges and all these fees are over and above any sales taxes.
Council approved the request of property owners along a block of Thurman Avenue to return the road to two way traffic. The road has been one way for several years. The road is somewhat narrow and the planning commission had not approved the change but the city council has the final say on the matter and it was approved with 4 votes in favor and council member Pamala Harris abstaining. The parking along the road will be left alone.
Council approved a reduction in the inspection fees for the construction of the new Crab Orchard School. The fee to the county would be $21,000 but instead, the city council approved charging the cost of the time and travel not to exceed $7,000.
Under the city attorney's report, Will Ridley reported to the council that the court had approved the city's request to demolish the condemned Inn of the Cumberlands at Tennessee Avenue and Sparta Highway. Ridley said he was not seeking council approval for that action yet as he was still looking into some property ownership issues.
Condemmed Inn of the Cumberlands
Under public comments at the council meeting, downtown property owner Shirley Hughes expressed concern about parking in the downtown area especially about workers using space all day that are in front of other businesses. Hughes said she felt that there needed to be a parking lot for workers, especially county courthouse workers that would not interfere with downtown businesses.
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