The Kingston City Council has passed their 2017-18 Fiscal Year Budget and tax rate on first reading. The vote was unanimous for the budget which does not include a tax rate hike. During the meeting, the council tasked City Manager David Boling to comprise a letter to the county to ask for ownership of the Roane County High School property when or if it becomes available should the county decide to go through with the school board’s plan to consolidate Rockwood, Harriman and Kingston High Schools into one. The council also passed the water and sewer department budget for next year without any increases in water rates.