Yesterday, the Crossville City Council approved the 2025-26 fiscal year budget and maintained the property tax rate in a 3-2 vote, with council members James Mayberry and Mike Turner opposing. They sought to restore funding for local non-profits like Fair Park Senior Center, Hospice, Avalon, and VORP Mediation Center, which were cut from the budget.

Mayor R.J. Crawford, who has pushed to reduce non-profit donations, argued they weren’t city-specific and preferred sharing costs with the county. Total donations to outside agencies are $2.8 million, with $2.3 million allocated to the YMCA’s Recreation Center project.

An amendment to restore $15,000 for non-profits was proposed but failed, and the original budget passed with votes from Crawford, Mark Fox, and Art Gernt.