Livingston Proposing 11-Cent Tax Increase, Raises For Employees

The City Of Livingston proposing a four percent raise for city employees in the new fiscal year budget unveiled Monday night.

The budget, approved on first reading by the council Monday night, includes an 11-cent property tax increase.

Mayor Curtis Hayes said he started with an even greater increase for employees but found the city could not afford that level of spending. The proposal comes as a result of a just-completed wage study.

“I think with this pay scale that we have put in, we’re going to keep some employees,” Hayes said. “I think it makes us competitive. Does it make us the top payer in the Upper Cumberland? No. Is it a long ways from where we was? Yes. Do we still got a ways to go? Yes. But this is the first step and hopefully we can continue to do the pay scale.”

Hayes said the budget is lean with the city needing to carefully consider expenses. There are no new hires in the plan and Hayes said the board would need to carefully consider whether to replace employees who leave in the upcoming fiscal year.

“I hate to say that because I know a lot of folks says, well, that’s not fair,” Hayes said. “The water department gets to do this and the gas department gets to do that. But that’s the business side of city government.”

Hayes said no major capital projects are included in the plan. He said several major capital projects are expected to roll off during the next several years, including major paving work and the bonds for Central Park.

The public will have the chance to comment on the budget during a public hearing June 29 at 5pm.