County Mayor Claude Ramsey on Thursday morning told the County Commission he is recommending a 26-cent property tax increase.
Mr. Ramsey said without the tax boost the county would face a $3.9 million shortfall and have to lay off county employees.
He said the tax rise would cover escalating costs of new schools and additions that were already approved, build a new East Ridge Elementary School and Red Bank Middle School, and pay for 14 new School Resource Officers.
Mr. Ramsey said it would provide $20 million to the county general fund for such items as completing the County Courthouse renovation, investments at Enterprise South, a $4 million addition at the workhouse, $1 million for elevators, expansion of county records and storage.
He said it would fund replacement of the Business Development Center that is now located at the corner of Manufacturers Road and Cherokee Boulevard in North Chattanooga.
It would provide three new prosecutors and give additional funds to the public defender's office.
He said county employees would get an average 4.6 percent raise to the pay-for-performance system. He said an additional 1 percent would go to those "way below" on the pay scale.
Mr. Ramsey said $575,000 would be set aside for supported agencies who were cut three years ago.
The rise would allow $900,000 for a county discretionary fund.
There would be intersection improvements, including at Ooltewah-Ringgold Road and East Brainerd Road, Ooltewah-Ringgold Road and Standifer Gap Road, Amos Road near Ooltewah High School and Hunter Road at Flagstone.
There would be a new fire hall at Cooley Road and Birchwood Pike.
The tax increase would be divided to give 18 cents to the county general fund and eight cents to debt service.
Mr. Ramsey said the only new positions would be one for the Circuit Court clerk, one for the Criminal Court clerk and a parttime position in county building inspection.
Commissioner Warren Mackey said that 26 cents "in a lot of ways is a modest number."
But he said a number of citizens don't understand why there is a need for a tax increase with some $9 million in additional funds coming to the county schools.
Mr. Ramsey said the county cannot give the county schools less than it did last year.
He said the spending plan is "a responsible budget" that funds items in the county "that have been neglected for a while."
Commissioner Mackey said it is difficult to take additional funds from those on fixed incomes and commissioners would be "agonizing" over the proposed increase.
Chairman Larry Henry said, "A lot of us can afford this increase, but many people can't. So that makes it tough."
Mr. Ramsey said without the tax increase there would be no new schools or capital projects for 3-4 years.
County spending would rise from $533.9 million to $556.6 million.
The commission is to meet in two weeks for a vote on the budget. That will be July 12.
Sheriff from $21,438,706 to $22,824,632
Health Department from $18.6 million to $19.6 million
Human Services from $36.1 million to $38.7 million
Public Works from $15.3 million to $16.6 million
Finance from $6,088,387 to $6.4 million
County Mayor's office from $594,352 to $627,118
Chief of Staff Jeannine Alday's operation from $336,382 to $363,309
County Attorney from $784,471 to $807,198
Chief Reading Officer from $197,139 to $208,536
County Commission from $578,733 to $645,312
County Auditor from $870,325 to $945,353
Human Resources from $584,814 to $685,901
Development from $432,735 to $454,039
Planning Commission from $848,535 to $920,195
Regional Council of Governments same $61,579
Air Pollution Control same $188,548
Humane Education Society same $299,534
Chamber of Commerce economic development $400,000 to $450,000
Erlanger same $3 million
Public Library same $2,487,660
Allied Arts $135,000 to $150,000
WTCI $27,000 to $30,000
CARTA $96,660 to $100,200
Regional History Museum $25,200 to $28,000
Urban League $45,000 to $50,000
African American Museum/Bessie Smith Hall $57,600 to $64,000
African American Chamber $67,500 to $75,000
Choose Chattanooga 0 to $25,000
Armed Forces Day Parade 0 to $10,000
Bethlehem Center $13,500 to $15,000
Medical Examiner $818,220 to $893,593
Clerk and Master $736,986 to $725,068
Circuit Court Clerk $1,025,864 to $1,055,976
County Clerk $1,531,569 to $1,637,837
Register $374,332 to $374,215
Trustee $366,589 to $377,616
Assessor of Property $3,019,135 to $3,243,625
District Attorney $802,323 $1,009,220
Election Commission $1,654,171 to $1,570,099
Criminal Court Clerk $1,224,797 to $1,242,646
Public Defender $322,092 to $476,225
General Sessions Court $1,096,108 to $1,152,785
Juries $180,000 to $200,000
Criminal Court Judges $182,474 to $191,829
Chancery Court Judges $10,500 to $12,000
Circuit Court Judges $240,360 to $242,563
Juvenile Court Clerk $1,209,967 to $1,463,040
Juvenile Judge $3,109,658 to $3,590,666