District 7 County Commissioner Larry Henry said he opposes a planned annexation effort by the city of Chattanooga.

Commissioner said it is "not time to annex" during the current hard economic times.

He said, "In recent days and weeks, much of the local political discussion has focused on the city of Chattanooga’s efforts to annex portions of unincorporated Hamilton County. As a commissioner whose district is divided among both city and county residents and whose constituents will be affected if the city’s proposed annexation plans are approved, I wanted to take a few moments to share my thoughts.

"It is no secret that we are facing a time of economic hardship. Property values are on the decline. Foreclosures in Hamilton County have increased. Americans in general – and Hamilton County and Chattanooga residents in particular – are facing a tightening of available credit and a money crunch the likes of which I have never seen.

"It is against this backdrop that the city of Chattanooga seeks to annex unincorporated portions of Hamilton County and, in the process, increase the tax burden for Hamilton County residents. Increasing a taxpayer’s burden is never something that should be taken lightly, and this is especially so in hard economic times. Yet that is exactly what will happen if the city of Chattanooga carries out its plan to annex portions of unincorporated Hamilton County. Now is simply not the time to do it.

"In addition, annexation will increase the areas in which the Chattanooga city police department will be responsible for law enforcement. I am concerned that, if additional areas are added to the city of Chattanooga, law enforcement will be a problem. Annexation is not worth the cost of jeopardizing safety.

"I am no stranger to the effects of annexation. In the 1970s, the city of Chattanooga annexed the area where my father and I ran our family business and the area where I lived. As a result, I paid nearly twice the amount of property tax on both properties that I had been paying immediately prior to annexation. And, even though economic times were not nearly as tough then as they are now, it was a struggle at times for me to pay city and county taxes.

"So I understand on a personal level how difficult annexation can be for residents who suddenly see their tax bills double. And I understand that the benefits of annexation – such as garbage service, sewer service, and street lights – are vastly outweighed by the increased tax burden.

"In the final analysis, annexation is not worth the cost, particularly in these difficult economic times. Though I have no power to prevent or delay annexation as a Commissioner, I plan to let Mayor Littlefield and other members of the City Council know of my opposition to annexation. I urge any person opposed to annexation to do the same."