Announcement of Metro Council Pre-Budget Public Comment Period

The Metropolitan Council began conducting a Pre-Budget Public Comment Period in 2022 for Nashvillians to provide input for the annual budget process in advance of the Metropolitan Charter-required Budget Public Hearing. This year, the Council will conduct a Pre-Budget Public Comment Period at the Tuesday, February 4, 2025 Council meeting. The process will follow the regular public comment period format as provided in Council Rule 28 with some exceptions.

Please note the following guidelines specific to the 2025 Pre-Budget Comment Period:

• The special comment period will be limited to two hours.
• Each individual will be allowed up to two minutes to speak.
• All individuals seeking to speak must sign up in-person on February 4. A designated sign-up form will be located outside of the Council Chamber on the second floor of the Historic Courthouse and City Hall at One Public Square.
• The sign-up will open at 5:00 p.m. and close at 6:00 p.m., in advance of the 6:30 p.m. Council Meeting start.
• Speakers must provide proof of Tennessee residency. A list of acceptable items to demonstrate Tennessee residency is available on the Metro Council Public Comment Period webpage.
• Time slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

This Pre-Budget Public Comment Period does not replace the Budget Public Hearing, which is held each year pursuant to Section 6.05 of the Metropolitan Charter. The Charter requires a public hearing on the Metropolitan Government's Operating Budget after the first reading of the Budget Ordinance. That hearing is scheduled to be held at the second of three total readings of the Budget Ordinance on the evening of June 3, 2025. Pursuant to the Charter, The Metropolitan Council's proposed Substitute or Amended Operating Budget for the Metropolitan Government must be adopted by the Council by June 30 or the Mayor's proposed Budget automatically becomes law.

For more information about the Pre-Budget Public Comment period please contact the Metro Council Office at 615-862-6780.