08/08/2026
Last night, Millington, TN - Municipal Government's FY27 Budget was passed by our Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
I want to thank our Mayor and Aldermen for the time, effort, and thoughtfulness they brought to this process. Budgeting is one of the most important responsibilities in local government. It requires balancing immediate needs with long-term priorities, making difficult choices, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are stewarded and invested where they can have the greatest impact. Across multiple public meetings and work sessions, our Board remained focused on those responsibilities and on continuing to move Millington forward.
I also want to thank the residents, community partners, department heads, and city employees who participated in the process for many many months. Good budgets are built through collaboration, and the perspectives shared throughout this process shaped the final product.
The result is a budget that maintains our commitment to disciplined financial management while making meaningful investments in the areas that matter most to our community.
Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, Millington remains in a strong position because of years of steady leadership, responsible planning, and a willingness to leverage partnerships and outside funding to maximize the impact of every local dollar.
Importantly, this budget maintains a no property tax increase while continuing investments in public safety, infrastructure, education, parks, culture, and our workforce.
One of the most significant priorities in this budget is our continued investment in the people who serve our community every day. The budget includes a 5% pay raise for City employees and the addition of paid parental leave. For our rank-and-file Millington Tennessee Police Department officers and Millington Fire Department personnel, these investments are even more meaningful when combined with existing step increases. Most officers and firefighters will see total compensation increases of 10% next year. These investments build on the progress we have made over the last two years to improve recruitment and retention while ensuring Millington remains competitive in attracting and retaining talented public servants.
The budget also continues important retention initiatives, including the Employee Residency Bonus Program, Fire Medic special pay, and expanded special pay programs for police officers serving in critical assignments. These investments recognize the professionalism and dedication of the women and men who protect our community, respond when our residents need them most, and help make Millington a safer place to live, work, and raise a family.
This budget also represents a major investment in public safety infrastructure and services. We will transition our Fire Department from Basic Life Support to Advanced Life Support, a change that will save lives and improve emergency medical care throughout our city. We will continue expanding public safety resources while making major investments in facilities and equipment.
Residents will also see significant investments in infrastructure. The budget includes major water and sewer improvements, continued investment in roads and neighborhood infrastructure, and support for the construction of a new fire station and park complex in one of the fastest-growing areas of our city.
Our parks and quality of life amenities will continue to grow as well, with investments in every existing park, the development of a new park, and continued progress on Greenline connections. We are also expanding support for youth mental health through partnerships with local organizations and faith-based institutions.
We are also continuing proud history of investing heavily in Millington Municipal Schools. This budget increases the City's deferred maintenance contribution by 10% and continues support for school capital requests, reflecting our shared commitment to investing in the next generation and maintaining high-quality educational facilities for our students.
Next year will be a big year for our community. We will break ground on the 20th Lone Sailor monument in the world thanks to our partnership with the Navy League Memphis. We will officially Save the Harrold Building and begin writing its next chapter. We will celebrate the Millington YMCA's 25th anniversary in Millington while supporting a more than $10 million renovation and expansion project, with approximately half of the investment dedicated to expanding childcare services for local families. The City's contribution will represent roughly 25 percent of the total project cost and will be provided over a 10-year period after construction begins, leveraging significant support from state, philanthropic, and community partners to maximize the impact of local dollars. We will continue supporting our schools, investing in the infrastructure that supports future growth, and positioning our community for long-term success.
None of this happens alone.
At its core, this budget is grounded in a simple idea: we are stronger together. That means leveraging partnerships, grants, outside investment, and the talents of our residents, employees, businesses, nonprofits, schools, and community organizations to accomplish more than any one group could alone. It means recognizing that Millington's success is a shared effort and that our greatest progress comes when we work toward common goals.
This budget reflects that philosophy. It invests in the people who serve our community, strengthens public safety, improves infrastructure, expands opportunities for families, and positions Millington for continued success.
Thank you to our Board of Mayor and Aldermen, our employees, our residents, and our community partners for helping make this work possible. Together, we are building a stronger Millington, and the best days of our city are still ahead.
