The Murfreesboro City Council has signed off on a balanced $782 million budget for Fiscal Year 2026–27, keeping the city’s property tax rate exactly where it is while pouring more money into police, roads and city staff pay. The plan leans into the city’s fast growth, adding public safety positions and a hefty slate of capital projects without shifting the tax load onto homeowners, all while holding reserves in case the economy throws a curveball.
Budget by the numbers
According to the city's FY27 proposed budget, total spending lands at $782 million, with the General Fund at roughly $417 million. General Fund revenues are projected at about $303 million, and the city expects to enter FY27 with an unassigned fund balance near $115 million. The document also shows roughly $132 million in capital expenditures, paid for through a mix of grants, reserves and current revenues.
Public safety and staff pay
"This budget supports the priorities our residents care about most, safe neighborhoods, better roads, strong schools, and a vibrant local economy," Mayor Shane McFarland said. The plan funds 18 additional sworn police officers, five new civilian positions and a 6% raise for full-time employees. It also earmarks roughly $6.5 million for broader salary adjustments aimed at shoring up recruitment and retention, as reported by WGNS.
Roads, stormwater and big projects
The spending plan front-loads transportation and stormwater work, with about $71 million set aside for roadway maintenance and construction and another $75 million reserved for capital improvements. It allocates $17 million for the Town Creek stormwater and daylighting project and dedicates $39 million from MED sale proceeds for major road widenings and realignments meant to relieve congestion, according to the city's budget document.
What residents will pay
Council kept the city’s property tax rate locked at $0.9526 per $100 of assessed value. Trash customers, however, will see higher bills. Residential garbage collection will rise from $13.50 to $15.50 per month, and commercial service will climb from $45 to $50 per can. Officials said the fee changes are part of a multi-year push to transition Solid Waste into a self‑sustaining utility model, per WGNS.
Bottom line and what to watch
City leaders are touting a balanced operating budget designed to keep up with Murfreesboro’s rapid growth. The real drama will unfold in the execution, from how quickly road and stormwater projects move from drawings to construction sites to whether reimbursements and MED proceeds arrive on the schedule the city is counting on. Council is set to finalize the timing of capital projects and any related borrowing later this year as the focus shifts from planning to actually getting dirt turned.
