CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The Clarksville City Council passed its 2026 city operating budget Thursday night without an extra pay raise for firefighters.
Clarksville firefighters had been petitioning the council to include a wage increase beyond the standard 2.5 percent provided to all city employees. They argued the $44,000 starting salary is lower than most other departments in the area and isn’t enough for many of them to make ends meet.
“We all feel kind of disrespected and unheard,” said Clarksville firefighter union president Jesse Snyder. “We’ve got guys screaming for help. They’re out there, they’re telling complete strangers what’s going on. They’re telling their whole story, and you don’t get that if they’re just not begging for help at this point. To act like we don’t have an issue and to act like that we’re not being vocal and just ignoring us, that’s really been kind of a sore spot for everyone.”…