Kingston Springs weighs proposed $4.22M budget for 2027

The Kingston Springs Board of Commissioners held their second budget workshop meeting for fiscal year 2027 (FY27), where town leaders discussed how to make cuts to the proposed $4.22 million budget for next year. 

City Manager John Lawless suggested that the Board of Commissioners look into maximizing revenue sources – like enticing more commercial properties – after Commissioner Michael Coldwell suggested the town needs to be more “creative” to add to its topline number. 

“We need more money,” Mayor Todd Verhoven agreed. 

“We say that there's no land, but we're not doing anything … for developers to make a connection with the little pieces of the land that we do have,” Coldwell said. “Until we attract some rooftops, or attract some mixed use or attract some commercial, our sewer is going to languish.” 

He continued, “We are committed to being a high service community. We've got a parks department, we've got our own police force. Those are things that communities of 2,800 people typically don’t have, but it’s part of what makes us great.”

Last May, Coldwell proposed an idea to create an Economic Development Task Force to guide the city’s strategic planning, but the board ultimately deferred the decision until next fiscal year. 

Commissioners waive $9k salary

In FY27, $9,600 was budgeted to pay the Board of Commissioners. The board members agreed to waive their monthly check of $150, while Mayor Verhoven agreed to forgo his $200 monthly check. 

Despite this, town staff salaries remained a point of contention. The current proposed budget includes a 2.5% cost of living increase for each employee, as well as a 2% merit raise and a $1,000 Christmas bonus. 

Lawless said that the town can forgo the 2% merit raise this year and instead work their way up to that increase next year. 

Police Chief Bubba Ivy noted that Kingston Springs is losing its officers to higher paying precincts like Metro, or even White Bluff – which pays its upper-level officers much more than KSPD. 

Most recently, K9 handler Nate Palazzi moved to metro after 15 years with KSPD. 

The fire department needs nearly $1 million in FY27, due to the refurbishment of two of its engines and the state requirement to update its radios by the end of this year. The police department also needs around $225,000 to replace their radios. 

While not slated in the budget this year, Brandy Miniat, the head of the parks department, said Burns Park desperately needs to replace its 23-year-old playground equipment after a child recently fell through the metal surfacing and cut their leg. It is currently temporarily repaired with zip ties. 

Miniat said the department has around $250k saved up to replace the playground equipment, but that is about a quarter of what will be needed. 

Lawless said the town has been working to establish a “Friends” group for the parks department and the Town of Kingston Springs more generally. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit will be able to fundraise and accept donations on behalf of the town. Lawless said the formation of the friends group has been stuck with their lawyers for nearly a year, but is hopeful it will be established soon.  

The Town has also set aside $10,000 to replace its 30-year-old Christmas lights that are hung on the electric poles each holiday season. 

The next budget workshop meeting will take place on April 20 at 5:30 p.m. at the Burns Park Activity Center. The public is invited to attend. The FY27 budget will go into effect on July 1, 2026.