Bradley County Commission raises property tax rate and adopts FY2026–27 budget to fund pay increases

The Bradley County Commission on June 26 adopted the county’s 2026–27 budget and set a higher property tax rate after a public hearing and debate over how to fund pay increases for county employees and first responders.

Commissioner Milan M. Blake, who presented the budget plan, told the Commission the proposal is designed to address long‑standing pay gaps. Blake said the county faces high turnover and vacant positions because compensation has lagged, and he cited a livable‑wage estimate of $41,700, saying “more than 26% of our county workforce earns less than that amount.” The budget, he said, reduces county debt by $6.4 million and dedicates funding for public‑safety equipment including $1.2 million for sheriff’s vehicles and radios, a new ambulance plus two convalescent vans for EMS, and new turnout gear and cancer protections for firefighters.

County Mayor D. Gary Davis, speaking earlier, said he supports improving pay but argued against raising taxes to pay for a larger across‑the‑board increase. “This decision is about more than whether we value our employees. It is also about how we fund County Government, what burden we place on taxpayers,” he said, noting that he had proposed a balanced budget with 3% raises and targeted higher increases for public safety without a tax increase.

Following public comment and debate, the Commission voted to adopt Resolution 2026‑13 (fixing the county property tax levy) by a 9–5 roll call. The adopted Resolution 2026‑13, as entered in the meeting record, sets the combined property tax rate at $1.0772 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2026–27. The meeting record also shows the Commission adopted Resolution 2026‑12 fixing the fire district levy; the roll call on that item similarly passed 9–5. A substitute motion offered by Commissioner Tim Ledford to adopt the Mayor’s no‑tax‑increase proposal failed, 5–9.

Commissioners disclosing conflicts under Tennessee Code Annotated §5‑5‑112 included Mike Hughes (employee, Bradley County Sheriff’s Office), Denny Collins (employee, Bradley County Schools), Scott Gilbert (wife employed by Bradley County Schools), and Tim Mason (employee, Bradley County Sheriff’s Office); each stated the conflict on the record before voting.

The Commission also approved Resolution 2026‑14, the appropriations resolution for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, by roll call vote (9–5). The adopted budget in the meeting record allocates funds across the County General Fund, Fire District, Pike Road Fund, school funds and other accounts, and includes program and capital expenditures noted in the attached schedule to the minutes. In addition, Resolution 2026‑15, which appropriates $700,000 to the Bradley County E‑911 Emergency Communications District and lists other nonprofit grants and reporting conditions, passed unanimously (14–0).

Votes at a glance: Resolution 2026‑12 (fire district levy) — adopted, 9 yes, 5 no; Resolution 2026‑13 (combined county property tax rate) — adopted, 9 yes, 5 no; Resolution 2026‑14 (appropriations) — adopted, 9 yes, 5 no; Resolution 2026‑15 (nonprofit appropriations) — adopted, 14 yes, 0 no. Final FY2025–26 budget amendments (true‑ups) were approved earlier in the meeting by unanimous vote.

The meeting record includes full texts of the resolutions and detailed appropriation schedules as attachments. Notably, the record contains multiple text attachments for Resolution 2026‑12 that show differing draft figures for the fire tax levy; the roll‑call minutes reflect the Commission’s adoption of Resolution 2026‑12 but do not show a single annotated, signed attachment resolving those internal draft discrepancies.

With no further business the Commission adjourned at 2:12 p.m. EST. County Clerk Donna A. Simpson attested the minutes.