athens tn annual budget fy2024 2025

Machine-read OCR text; verify every number, name, and layout against the original page.

There are a wide variety of recreational activities for the citizens of Athens and for local tourists. Annual
special events include the Soap Box Derby, Fishing Derby, July 4 Fireworks, the Easter Egg Hunt and the
nationally recognized Daddy Daughter Dance. The 165 acre Athens Regional Park anchors the park system
and includes two lakes, miles of hiking/walking trails, one of the largest splashpads in the state, a large
playground, baseball, softball, and soccer fields along with a large lake pavilion and the Southeast
Tennessee Trade and Conference Center. Shown below is a picture taken of the Regional Park on August
21, 2017 as people were preparing to view the total solar eclipse. Other pictures show participants in the
Soap Box Derby and a family walking on the Eureka Trail, a former railway line. Many other neighborhood
parks are maintained by the City including the downtown Market Park which is home to the farmers
market and a summer concert series along with other special events. The USS Charles R. Ware DD-865
calls Athens its final home port and the City hosts the ship reunion every three years and maintains
Veterans Park, home to the Charles R. Ware memorial, the veteran’s brick walk and monuments to honor

area veterans.

The City implemented an updated classification/compensation plan in September, 2023 which resulted
in pay increases for all positions due to rate of inflation over the past two years. The current year budget
continues to be impacted by the increase in costs and includes a 2% cost of living adjustment for all full
time employees. The current year property tax rate remains at $1.0078 per $100 of assessed value.

The last picture in this section shows the 2 new pumpers that were placed in service during FY22. These
replaced a 1996 and a 2001 pumper, resulting in the primary pumpers at both fire stations to be identical
trucks. The City began a Fleet Management Fund in 1995 that provides for the replacement of vehicles
and equipment ona set schedule by setting aside funds annually to be available when needed to purchase

the replacement equipment.