2026 2 20 Strategic Summit Agenda

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2026 Strategic Summit 
 
Friday, February 20, 2026 
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
 
McMinn Higher Education Center 
                              Facilitated by Southeast Tennessee Development District (SETD) 
 
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.  Breakfast 
 
9:00 – 9:15 a.m.  Welcome & Introductions 
 
9:15 – 9:30 a.m.  Review of Previous and Current Accomplishments 
• Review of FY 2024-25 Previous Year’s Accomplishments 
• Review of Feb. 2025 Strategic Summit Priorities and their Outcomes 
• Review of FY 2025-26 Current Program of Work 
 
9:30 – 10:00 a.m.  Athens in Context for Future Planning 
• City and County Population Growth Chart and City Demographic Data 
• U.S. Population Projection, Consumer Sentiment, and Delinquency Rate Charts 
• City School Enrollment Growth Chart 
• City Single-Family Home Building Permit Issuance Chart 
• Number of City Sanitation Customers and Collection Chart 
• Parks & Recreation Program Participation Chart 
• Local Sales Tax Collection Charts 
• City Hotel/Motel Tax Collection Chart (4%) 
• Cash Balances & Investment Sheet as of December 2025 
• LGIP Interest Rate Chart 
• Adjacent City and County Total Property Tax Rates for 2025 
 
10:00 – 10:45 a.m. What Should the City’s Future Planning Strategy Be Based on Current Context? 
(Including a Seven-Year CIP) 
 
10:45 – 11:00 a.m. Break 
 
11:00 – 12:00 p.m. Departmental Presentations to Discuss Specific Budget Priorities for FY 2026-27 and 
Specific Long-Term Projects Based on the Seven-Year CIP 
 
• Parks & Recreation / SE TN Trade & Conference Center 
• Police Department 
• Fire Department 
 
12:00 – 12:30 p.m. Lunch 
 
12:30 – 3:00 p.m. Departmental Presentations to Discuss Specific Budget Priorities for FY 2026-27 and 
Specific Long-Term Projects Based on the Seven-Year CIP  
 
• Community Development / Codes Enforcement / Cemeteries 
• Information Technology 
• Tourism (Hotel/Motel Tax Fund) 
• Public Works / Sanitation / Capital Projects 
• HR / Finance / Purchasing 
 
3:00 – 3:15 p.m.  Break 
 
3:15 – 4:30 p.m. Discussion and List of Specific Budget Priorities for FY 2026-27 and Specific Long-
Term Projects for the Seven-Year CIP