Clarksville Council Proposed Sales Tax Increase
Councilman Brian Zacharias seeks to renegotiate the current sales-tax revenue sharing agreement with Montgomery County.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in City Hall
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Clarksville City Council is evaluating a proposal to secure a larger portion of local-option sales-tax revenue to support city services. Councilman Brian Zacharias plans to initiate formal negotiations with Montgomery County to address the needs of the city.
Why it matters
The city seeks additional funding to manage rapid growth and cover essential costs including police, fire, roads, sidewalks, and stormwater infrastructure. Officials argue that increasing the city share of tax revenue is necessary to maintain public services as the local population expands.
The proposal aims to increase the city's current 24% share of local-option sales-tax revenue to 35% by fiscal year 2028. The long-term goal of the initiative is to reach a 50% share of total revenue by 2031.
The players
Brian Zacharias
Brian Zacharias is a Clarksville City Councilman who introduced the resolution to seek a larger share of sales-tax revenue.
Montgomery County
Montgomery County is the regional government authority currently sharing local-option sales-tax revenue with Clarksville.
Clarksville City Council
The Clarksville City Council is the legislative body tasked with debating and approving the city's budget and tax policies.
The details
Councilman Brian Zacharias introduced the effort to renegotiate the existing distribution model, which currently leaves the city with less than one-quarter of the tax income. The city council must still debate the resolution before formal talks with the county can commence.
Timeline
November 2026: Resolution to begin talks scheduled for introduction.
Fiscal year 2028: Target date for achieving a 35% revenue share.
2031: Target date for achieving a 50% revenue share.
Political Context
Opposition from the county or dissenting council members may center on the existing framework of the Tennessee local-option sales tax statutes. Critics often point to the potential impact on county-wide service funding if the city unilaterally shifts the revenue split.
Residents may see the proposal impact the funding available for critical local infrastructure such as road repairs and stormwater management. If approved, the shift could eventually reduce the county's relative tax haul while expanding the city's budget for public safety and services.
The takeaway
Securing a larger portion of sales tax revenue is a long-term goal for the city that would fundamentally change how services are financed. Citizens should monitor the upcoming council meetings to see how the proposed 2028 and 2031 targets progress through the legislative process.
What happens next
A resolution to begin formal negotiations with the county is scheduled to be introduced in November 2026.
Further reading
For more information on local governance, visit the City Hall section.
Live Poll
Do you believe reallocating tax revenue between city and county governments would improve your local services?
