City Council

MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BRISTOL, TENNESSEE CITY COUNCIL CALLED MEETING September 10,2024 CALL TO ORDER: The City of Bristol, Tennessee City Council called meeting was brought to order by Mayor Vince Turner on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 7:00 P.M. in the Slater Center Auditorium. ROLL CALL: Present: Mayor Vince Turner, Vice Mayor Mark Hutton, Councilwoman Margaret Feierabend, Councilman Mahlon Luttrell, and Councilwoman Lea Powers. City staff members present included City Manager Kelli Bourgeois, City Attorney Danielle Smith, Director of Administration Mary Lee Williams, Director of General Services Russell Whitaker, IT Manager Greg Cross, Director of Parks and Recreation Mike Mains, Director of Economic Development Tom Anderson, Director of Community Relations Jon Luttrell, IT Network Technician Nick Rugate, Director of Finance Hollie Verran, and other members of City staff. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice Mayor Mark Hutton gave the invocation and Councilman Mahlon Luttrell led the pledge of allegiance. PUBLIC HEARINGS: Ordinance 24-12 - An Ordinance Amend Ordinance 24-5 (An Ordinance to Adopt the Annuai Budget and Tax Rate for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025) by Changing the Previously Established Tax Rate City Manager Kelli Bourgeois reviewed that at the Council meeting last week. Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 24-12 that would amend the property tax rate for Fiscal Year 2025 to $2.25. It is an increase of $0.2637 per $100 of assess value. As discussed at the last meeting there are a number of reasons for this recommendation. The City has not seen a tax rate increase for the last 13 years and in fact, the tax rate is $0.36 lower than it was in 2005. As presented to Council in a prior work session by Bond Advisor Scott Gibson we are in the position of having to consider a tax increase for a number of reasons. Primarily, to keep in compliance with our fund balance policy which is having three months of expenses and debt coverage in our fund balance. As many other communities across the state and the nation, we are seeing increases to the cost of doing business and we have hit a point where we cannot continue to operate without a tax increase and still keep the same level of service that we are able to provide at this point. Our staff does an amazing job at trying to provide the best service possible at the lowest cost possible and we are always looking at ways to do that in a more efficient manner. Our brush and bulk collection, although not without frustration in asking people to call or fill out a form, will result in a $75,000 to a $100,000 savings by just making that change. The City is looking at every opportunity to try to save on costs, but only so much can be done to continue to maintain the level of service that we provide our residents.