The County Commission on Wednesday for the first time approved a budget that tops $1 billion. The final figure is $1,051,451,689.
The budget does not include a property tax increase.
Commission Chairman Jeff Eversole cautioned that steps need to be taken now to avoid a tax increase in the future. He said COVID funds could no longer be relied upon.
The vote was 9-1. Commissioner David Sharpe was opposed. Commissioner Warren Mackey was absent.
The county school board had initially asked for a $20 million increase - above "growth money." The approved budget includes an extra one-time $5 million.
Also, County Mayor Wamp said the state is providing an extra $2 million for a planned regional forensics center.
He said the county initially looked at a site on Jenkins Road for a brand new facility, but the cost was excessive.
Instead, the county recently closed on the $2.65 million purchase of the former Center for Sports Medicine at 400 N. Holtzclaw Ave. The 13,342-square-foot building was erected in 1987 and renovated in 1998.
County Mayor Wamp said the estimate by Artech architectural firm is that the cost to rehab the building will be $12 million. The state earlier provided $10 million for the project.
The county mayor said the additional state funds will hopefully cover the full cost.
Here are the county budget appropriations for supported agencies:
1. That $81,903 be appropriated to the Regional Council of Governments and
SETDD to promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to
provide funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
2. That $228,113 be appropriated to the Air Pollution Control Bureau to
promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
3. That $842,974 be appropriated to the Humane Educational Society to
promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
4. That $600,000 be appropriated to the Chamber-Community Economic
Development to promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and
to provide funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
5. That $107,947 be appropriated to the Chattanooga African-American
Museum Building Maintenance to promote the welfare of the citizens of
Hamilton County and to provide funds for the ongoing programs of the
organization.
6. That $25,000 be appropriated to the Armed Forces Day Parade to promote
the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide funds for the
ongoing programs of the organization.
7. That $50,000 be appropriated to the Creative Discovery Museum to
promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
8. That $50,000 be appropriated to the Thrive Regional Partnership to promote
the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide funds for the
ongoing programs of the organization.
9. That $170,000 be appropriated to United Way 211 to promote the welfare
of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide funds for the ongoing
programs of the organization.
10. That $150,000 be appropriated to the Family Justice Center to promote the
welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide funds for the
ongoing programs of the organization.
11. That $30,000 be appropriated to Junior Achievement of Chattanooga to
promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
12. That $50,000 be appropriated to the Imagination Library – Signal Centers to
promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
13. That $250,000 be appropriated to the Partnership for Families/Children to
promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
14. That $150,000 be appropriated to the Hamilton County Fair to promote the
welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide funds for the
ongoing programs of the organization.
15. That $30,000 be appropriated to the Collegedale Public Library to promote
the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide funds for the
ongoing programs of the organization.
16. That $100,000 be appropriated to La Paz Chattanooga to promote the
welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide funds for the
ongoing programs of the organization.
17. That $82,165 be appropriated to the Hamilton County Hazardous Materials
Team to promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to
provide funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
18. That $640,979 be appropriated to the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire
Department to promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and
to provide funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
19. That $475,160 be appropriated to the Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department
to promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
20. That $130,884 be appropriated to the Mowbray Volunteer Fire Department
to promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
21. That $82,467 be appropriated to the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue
Squad to promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to
provide funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
22. That $532,211 be appropriated to the Highway 58 Volunteer Fire
Department to promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and
to provide funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
23. That $68,348 be appropriated to the Sequoyah Volunteer Fire Department
to promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
24. That $164,841 be appropriated to the Walden’s Ridge Emergency Services
to promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
25. That $237,447 be appropriated to the Sale Creek Volunteer Fire Department
to promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
26. That $103,467 be appropriated to the Hamilton County Stars to promote the
welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide funds for the
ongoing programs of the organization.
27. That $81,708 be appropriated to the Flattop Volunteer Fire Department to
promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
28. That $62,500 be appropriated to the Tennessee Interstate Conservancy, LLC
(Interstate Beautification) to promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton
County and to provide funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
29. That $50,000 be appropriated to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank to
promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
30. That $50,000 be appropriated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga to
promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
31. That $21,000 be appropriated to the Adult Day Services – Signal Centers to
promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
32. That $75,000 be appropriated to the Children’s Advocacy Center to
promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
33. That $50,000 be appropriated to the Young Lives – Teenage Moms
Program to promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to
provide funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.
34. That $10,366,500 be appropriated to the Chattanooga Tourism Company to
promote the welfare of the citizens of Hamilton County and to provide
funds for the ongoing programs of the organization.