City: NNR tax, budget proposed with little fanfare

V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute

Jefferson City Council proposed a balanced 2025-26 budget and a “No New Revenue” tax rate with little discussion during last Monday’s special meeting.

Council proposed moving $310,000 from reserves to fund the shortfall in the administrative and water/sewer budgets. The funds will also be used to purchase equipment for the Local Rabies Authority ($7k), fund the repair of the Jefferson VFD truck ($29k), and $252,681 transfer to water and sewer fund to cover that shortfall.

To help balance the budget, the city also reduced the funds to do street repairs by $67,044.

“I hate we have to do less on the streets, but that’s the way it is,” said Jefferson Mayor Patricia Finstrom.

Funding for Friends of Jefferson Animals, and other organizations, remained unchanged from the 2024-25 budget.

Funding the budget, Council proposed the NNR rate of $0.4112883 per $100 valuation. The NNR is the rate required to produce the same revenue as last year. However, the NNR rate is higher than last year’s rate of $0.4087406 per $100 value.

A hearing on the proposed budget is set for 6:30p September 10, and the tax rate for 6:30p September 11.

In other business, Council

• • accepted the resignation of Ward 2 Alderman Ray Hengst
• • discussed how to replace the City Attorney following the submission of four applications, and agreed on wording for the advertisement (see pg 7)
• • approved a building permit for Houchin Properties LLC at 108 W Clarksville
• • discussed options on the Ward 2 Alderman seat created by Hengst’s resignation. Council can leave it vacant, or appoint.