City of Columbia Adopts Annual Budget For Fiscal Year 2025-2026

Issue #471

June 19, 2025

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌤️ Columbia’s Weather - Partly cloudy, Wind gusts up to 22 mph, high of 86 & low of 65

📰 City of Columbia Adopts Annual Budget For Fiscal Year 2025-2026

📰 New Exhibit at The Parthenon Honors Pioneering Women in Medicine, Civil Rights, and Sports

📰 Support The Well Outreach: Dine, Volunteer, and Celebrate for a Cause

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 Today’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

City of Columbia Adopts Annual Budget For Fiscal Year 2025-2026

On Thursday, June 12, 2025, the Columbia City Council adopted the City’s fiscal year (FY) 2025–2026 budget on final consideration. The approved budget, totaling $88,953,406 for all funds, was achieved without a property tax increase and ensures the maintenance and enhancement of core City services.

The FY 2025–26 budget reflects strategic, plan-driven investments across all City departments. A key focus is continuing to invest in City employees, including a 4% salary increase for all personnel, to enhance the City’s competitiveness in recruiting and retaining staff.

Mayor Chaz Molder stated, “This year’s budget marks a major milestone as the largest operating budget in our city’s history, and I couldn’t be more proud of what it represents. It reflects a solid financial foundation, a strong commitment to improving infrastructure, and a clear focus on serving our residents. I’m especially thankful for the talented team of professionals who work tirelessly each year to develop a budget that meets our city’s evolving needs. This plan will touch every corner of our community, and I look forward to seeing its impact through the many projects it will bring to life. Most importantly, I’m proud that it once again prioritizes investment in our workforce—our city’s most valuable resource—which underscores the Council’s continued dedication to our employees.”

Of the total budget, 58% ($51,773,323) is allocated to the City’s General Fund, the primary operating fund that supports most of the City’s core services, including public works, parks, fire, police, and administration. The General Fund saw a 9.5% increase ($4.5 million) over last year.

City Manager Tony Massey remarked, “By investing in our workforce and critical infrastructure, we are ensuring Columbia can consistently provide exceptional services to its residents. This budget demonstrates our strong commitment to strategic planning and responsible financial stewardship.”

This budget also includes several capital projects and initiatives. Nearly $52.7 million is allocated for the City’s FY 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The five-year CIP, totaling $124.6 million, includes major multi-year projects such as street resurfacing, improvements at the Nashville Highway and Bear Creek Pike intersection, Iron Bridge and Mt. Olivet Bridge replacement projects, technology and capital equipment replacements, a new wastewater treatment plant, public works storage and fuel facility, downtown wayfinding signage, and over $2 million in improvements to the Columbia Aquatics and Recreation Center.

Assistant City Manager and CFO Thad Jablonski noted, “Dedicated to improving quality of life for all Columbia citizens and businesses, this budget maintains existing tax rates and fees with no increases. The city continues to maintain historically strong reserves and a healthy, low and manageable level of debt. By combining disciplined financial management with targeted investments in infrastructure, we are building a strong foundation for the city’s continued prosperity.”

New Exhibit at The Parthenon Honors Pioneering Women in Medicine, Civil Rights, and Sports

Sculptor Alan LeQuire

When several premature births occurred within sculptor Alan LeQuire’s family, it was the legacy of groundbreaking neonatal care that made all the difference. That life-saving care—developed decades earlier by Dr. Mildred Stahlman—inspired LeQuire’s latest exhibition, now open at The Parthenon in Nashville’s Centennial Park.

Titled Monumental Figures, the new installation opened on June 13 and honors 22 remarkable women from Nashville and beyond who have made lasting contributions to society. Among them is Stahlman, widely recognized for establishing the first neonatal intensive care unit in the U.S. to incorporate monitored respiratory therapy for newborns. That unit opened in 1962 at Vanderbilt University Hospital, in what is now Medical Center North.

The sculptures of Stahlman and the other honorees are displayed in the art museum inside The Parthenon, surrounding LeQuire’s towering 42-foot statue of Athena. That statue, one of his most iconic works, celebrates its 35th anniversary this year and remains the tallest indoor sculpture in the United States.

LeQuire, who studied sculpture in Europe, returned with a deep desire to memorialize real people—figures whose influence stems not from royalty or mythology, but from lived impact and public service. This new collection reflects that vision.

In addition to the indoor sculptures, a monumental head of civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer is featured outside The Parthenon. Hamer, the daughter of Mississippi sharecroppers, rose to national prominence as an outspoken advocate for voting rights. LeQuire recalls seeing her televised testimony at the 1964 Democratic National Convention during his childhood, an image that left a permanent impression on him and shaped the direction of his work.

LeQuire collaborated with eight emerging artists to create and install the Monumental Figures exhibit, emphasizing traditional, hands-on sculpting methods without the use of digital tools. Every piece in the show was crafted manually, reflecting the physical and mental discipline required to bring each figure to life.

The exhibit also includes a series of suspended sculptures inspired by Olympic champions such as gymnast Simone Biles, runner Wilma Rudolph, and swimmer Katie Ledecky—each of whom redefined excellence in their sport and inspired generations.

Monumental Figures is now open to the public and will remain on view at The Parthenon through September 21. More information can be found at nashvilleparthenon.com.

Support The Well Outreach: Dine, Volunteer, and Celebrate for a Cause

From Grecian Family Restaurant’s post…

The Well Outreach needs our help!!!! 

Starting today through July 15th, we invite you to dine at Grecian Family Restaurant and Bakery. When you bring food or cash donations for The Well Outreach to the restaurant, we will provide a 10% discount on your bill. Please do not combine this offer with any other promotions, offers, discounts, or coupons! 

*Most Needed Food Items: Peanut butter, jelly, cereal, canned meat or pasta meals, instant potatoes, ramen

2003 Wall Street Spring Hill TN 

Please share and spread the word! 

Two other Well Outreach events to mark on the calendar…

Is your family in need or do you know someone that is? The Well Outreach partnering with Farm Bureau will be hosting a Mobile Food Giveaway this Sat, June 21st at 8am at Columbia Central High School at 921 Lions Parkway, Columbia. Food distribution will begin at 8am and continue until all food is gone. Please share so that those who need us can find us. Thank you! 

If you would like to volunteer to help with the Mobile Food Pantry, please sign up here.

On July 4th, The Well Outreach is hosting a Run For Hunger 5k, Color Foam Run & Bicycle Parade at Summit High School in Spring Hill. It’s the City of Spring Hill’s largest July 4th event and it’s three events in one: 

-Timed 5K (7am)
-Color Fun/Foam Run (8am)
-July 4th Bicycle Parade sponsored by Spring Hill Parks and Recreation

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Thursday, June 19th Juneteenth

Friday, June 20th

Saturday, June 21st

Sunday, June 22nd

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Thursday, June 19th

Beatles4Sale, McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Austin Byrd, Puckett’s, 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito’s Spring Hill, 6:00-9:00 PM
Jordan Priest, Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:00 PM

Friday, June 20th 

NKahootz, Frankie’s Pizza & Grill, 6pm
Tom Saffell & Robert Johnson, McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Shannon McCue, The Spot, 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Rob Harris, Grinder’s Switch, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Nick Duke, Buck & Board, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Jason Alexander, Grazie! Italian Eatery, 6:30 - 9:30 PM
Special Songwriters Round w/ Ben Cannon, Jake Martini & Rich Gootee, Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:00 PM
Eastern Dreamers, Puckett’s, 7:30 - 9:00 PM 
Benji & The Jets, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8:00 - 11:00 PM

Saturday, June 21st 

Barracuda, The Mulehouse, 8:00 PM
MFT, The Rebel Bar & Grill, 7:30 PM
The Def Leprechaun Band, McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Natalia X Reeves, Puckett’s, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Grass Kickers, Amber Falls Winery, 3:00 - 7:00 PM
Mellie Koska, Buck & Board, 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Ryan Keeler, Grazie! Italian Eatery, 6:30 - 9:30 PM
Cross Bridges, Puckett’s, 7:30 - 9:00 PM
York Road, The Boondox, 8pm
Zone Status, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8:00 - 11:00 PM

Sunday, June 22nd

2 Bad Sons, The Rebel Bar & Grill, 4:00 PM
Cliftones, Amber Falls Winery, 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Todd Ciprian, Fizzy’s Bar & Grill, 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

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