2026 7 21 Regular Session Packet council

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ORDINANCE NO. 1159 
Page 1 of 2 
 
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND TITLE 1, CHAPTER 1-II OF THE ATHENS CITY CODE 
BY ADDING SECTION 1 -46 ESTABLISHING COMPENSATION FOR THE MAYOR 
AND COUNCILMEMBERS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE V, SECTION 4 OF THE 
CHARTER OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, TENNESSEE 
WHEREAS, Article V, Section 4 of the Charter of the City of Athens, Tennessee, as 
amended by Private Chapter No. 46 of the Private Acts of 2026, provides that the compensation 
of the Mayor and Councilmembers shall be established from time to time by ordinance duly 
adopted by the City Council, subject to any limitations imposed by Tennessee law; and 
WHEREAS, Article V, Section 4 of the Charter further provides that no change in 
compensation shall take effect during the term for which the Mayor or any Councilmember was 
elected, but that such changes may take effect for subsequent terms of office; and 
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to amend the Athens City Code to establish 
compensation for the Mayor and Councilmembers in accordance with the Charter; 
 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF ATHENS, 
TENNESSEE AS FOLLOWS: 
 
SECTION 1.  
 
That Title 1, Chapter 1-II of the Athens City Code is hereby amended by adding a new Section 1-
46 to read as follows: 
1-46 Compensation of Mayor and Councilmembers 
(1) The Mayor shall receive compensation in the amount of Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00)  per 
month for service as Mayor. 
 
(2) Each Councilmember shall receive compensation in the amount of  Five Hundred Dollars 
($500.00) per month for service as a member of the City Council. 
 
(3) The compensation established by this section shall be paid in accordance with the City's regular 
payroll procedures and shall be subject to all applicable federal and state withholding, 
reporting, and tax requirements. 
 
(4) Pursuant to Article V, Section 4 of the Charter of the City of Athens, no change in 
compensation shall become effective during the term for which the Mayor or any 
Councilmember was elected. Therefore, the compensation established by this section shall 
apply only upon the commencement of a new term of office for the Mayor or an individual 
Councilmember. Accordingly, the compensation established herein shall first apply to the three 
Councilmembers elected in the November 2026 municipal election upon taking office. The 
two Councilmembers whose current terms do not expire until the 2028 municipal election shall 
continue to receive the compensation in effect at the beginning of their current terms until they 
assume new terms of office following the 2028 election. 
 
(5) Reimbursement of actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties, 
when authorized by law, ordinance, policy, or approved budget appropriation, shall not be 
considered compensation for purposes of this section. 
 
SECTION 2.  
 
CODIFICATION AUTHORITY. 
The City Manager or designee is authorized to make ministerial, non- substantive corrections 
necessary to codify this ordinance, including formatting, numbering, lettering, internal sequencing, 
typographical, citation, and cross-reference corrections, and to update internal references affected 
by renumbering, provided that no change is made to the substantive meaning, effect, or legislative 
intent of this ordinance. 
 
 
 
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