MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) — The Rutherford County Commission voted unanimously Monday (21-0) to approve Mayor Joe Carr’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, maintaining the current property tax rate of $1.8762 per $100 of assessed value. The budget reflects a balanced plan with no tax increase, continuing the county’s status as one of Middle Tennessee’s lowest-taxed areas.
Vote is called
County Commissioner and Commission Chair Jeff Phillips calls for the vote...
Public safety is a major focus in the approved budget. Starting salaries for certified officers in the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office will surpass $60,000 for the first time, along with targeted pay increases for the Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services.
All county employees will receive a pay raise as part of the new compensation plan. The base pay table will increase by 2%, with an additional 1.75% raise for employees with at least one year of service. These raises follow a 4.25% increase issued in January, marking the third consecutive year of employee pay raises.
The budget includes a $2.9 million local increase to the Maintenance of Effort funding for Rutherford County Schools. Education remains the largest share of the budget, representing 67% of the total appropriations.
In total, the County’s budget for the upcoming year is $948.5 million. County officials emphasized that the budget continues a conservative fiscal strategy, avoiding unnecessary spending while meeting the demands of a rapidly growing population. Rutherford County remains one of only two counties in Tennessee to hold a AAA bond rating from two major credit agencies.
