A new no-tax-increase $221 million city budget from the Berke administration puts over 45 percent of the spending toward "safe streets."
Brent Goldberg, city chief operating officer, outlined the budget to the City Council. He said it would be on the city's website later today.
Officials said the budget "continues to focus on the five priority areas identified by Mayor Berke in his first two budgets: safer streets, growing the local economy, making students smarter and families stronger, building stronger neighborhoods, and ensuring a high performing government."
Mayor Andy Berke said the budget "builds on the budgets of the past two years, where Chattanooga has already seen results, and continues to invest in strategies needed to improve workforce, infrastructure, and public safety. While we have seen successes, like unemployment dropping and robberies at a five-year low, we have to continue to work hard and invest in the strategies that will move the needle and improve lives for our neighbors.”
Employees making $50,000 or less will receive a $750 raise.
Officials said that amounts to about a three percent increase for the lowest-paid employees.
Those making over $50,000 will get a 1.5 percent pay increase.
There is a 6.3 percent increase for employee health insurance, and employees will be assessed a $2-per-week premium increase.
There will be a 9.8 percent increase in sewer rates, adding $3.11 to the average monthly bill. Officials said that is aimed at helping pay for the $250 million Consent Decree for improving the local sewage system.
The budget sets aside $3.2 million for paving and street maintenance.
There will be additional funds to boost the curbside recycling program.
The budget includes money to establish a Special Victims Unit at the Chattanooga Police Department,Police Chief Fred Fletcher said, “Establishing a Special Victims Unit will allow us to spend the needed time and manpower to combat domestic violence and other intimate violence that is driving over 30 percent of our violent crime.”
It also funds the new Family Justice Center.
Police officers will be working side-by-side with city code inspectors to help eliminate problem structures.
The Police Department will receive 50 body cameras, and the Fire Department will add a new fire apparatus.
Officials said the budget "recognizes that the success of our youth is critical to the future of our city by continuing to fund initiatives that invest in supporting education, like a city-wide literacy initiative to provide extra reading help for kids and help for high school seniors who are filling out the federal financial aid form. In addition, the budget will make summer camp free for all low income kids to provide needed activities during the summer, as well as provide healthy, hot meals in the City’s YFD centers to combat the negative health effects of poor nutrition.
"While the metro area unemployment rate is at its lowest in six years, this budget supports two important drivers for the region’s economy: the Innovation District and the expansion of the second line at Volkswagen. In addition, the budget funds the city’s recently launched TechHire initiative that will help pair Chattanoogans with specific, abbreviated IT training programs which will ensure residents have the skills needed to compete for available IT jobs. In addition to TechHire, the city is increasing its commitment to Tech Goes Home, a partnership with The Enterprise Center, the Benwood Foundation, Hamilton County and others to ensure families and senior citizens have access to basic computer training and low cost hardware like ChromeBooks."
Mayor Berke said, “I am proud of the dedication city employees’ show each day to perform these tasks and many, many more. Whether it is delivering essential services or innovative policy solutions, City government is more attentive than ever to enhancing quality of life for our citizens. Over the next year, I look forward to seeing the city work with the private sector, non-profits, churches and families to build the best mid-size city in America.”
Click here to see the full proposed budget.