I'm a homespun country boy raised on an Indiana farm by a father who worked 46 years as a blacksmith for the railroad and a mom who worked many years as a cook in the public school system. I often wondered if my parents had the farm to keep my brother and me so worn out where we did not have sufficient strength to engage in mischief. Cattle, harvesting crops and succinct straight talking parents clearly conveyed the importance of safety, accountability, responsibility and consequences.
Attending college provided another opportunity to work with cattle and harvesting crops while continuing to learn all the skills of being safe and never suffering a serious injury in a high risk work environment. Dad did not tolerate compromising safety and dancing around his questions without providing a straight answer. My sibling sisters, brother and I learned a great many values that served us well in our life's journey and what a ride it has been as I near my 78th birthday.
The number one work highlight was my nearly 25 years as a senior healthcare executive with nearly 20 of that being in a faith-based teaching healthcare system where I had the privilege of serving under two exceptionally talented chief executive officers that set a very high bar of service excellence to physicians, patients, employees and community. The second major highlight has been my time with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, its great people and the amazing level of knowledge gained from the experience of interacting routinely with officers representing the various agencies and those who staff the various offices for the City, Civil, Criminal Courts and the District Attorney Offices. Along the way, I served several years as president of a small company assisting Fortune 100 clients in their Product Research and Development initiatives. In retirement we have a choice. Vegetate and hasten the end of life cycle or be active, learn and enjoy the mental stimulation which I am doing now.
All of these child, school and work experiences taught the importance of having an inquiring mind, accountability, responsibility and consequences. Intellectual honesty, transparency and trustworthiness was non-negotiable in all matters, including budgets and rate increases.
This is where I issue a challenge to the Chattanooga Mayor, his key staff members and council to help all of us citizens to understand the facts supporting the proposed 28 percent property tax increase and apparently a higher increase on commercial property. Here is what I have extrapolated from all the news accounts and most assuredly I probably am not aware of everything. I do smell a skunk.
Fact 1: Our Chattanooga Police, Fire and even the HCEMS need to be respected and supported with a competitive living wage. We expect them to endure every imaginable risk, insult, slander at any time regardless of the weather or time of day to support our plea for help. I volunteered many years as a fireman/EMT and know the hell that must be endured at times with rarely a thank you.
Fact 2: Depending on the source and day of reporting, I guess we need somewhere between $17.5 and $23.6 million to fund wage increases. I “think” the $17.5 million and the reported $5 million already set aside gets us closer to the $22 - 23 million.
Fact 3: When I “Googled” property tax revenues collected by Chattanooga in the last cycle, I got the number of $162 million. Is that correct? Surely, Google is never wrong. Haha.
Fact 4: Mayor Kelly is requesting a rate increase of $0.44 or 28 percent above current tax rate for residents.
Fact 5: Excluding the commercial rate (I don't have the numbers), the 28 percent requested increase, if approved, will result in an additional $45.36 million in revenue.
Question 1: If the above facts are reasonably on target, should we expect Mayor Kelly to explain his intentions for the approximate $22 million above what is needed for the first responders? Let's not forget that this massive tax increase, if approved for the amount being sought, will increase the cost of manufacturing, goods and services.
Question 2: How has revenue been generated and is projected with all of the new apartment complexes and home developments being constructed within city limits impacted city tax revenues?
Question 3: Is revenue being sought for needs that which should have been addressed by previous administrations?
Next Steps: It is time for Mayor Kelly to present his case to the residents with charts showing previous, current and projected annual Income & Expense Statement Summaries, Operating and Capital Budgets, and a listing of proposed major Capital Projects in a “State of Chattanooga” address on all local television stations.
D. E. Klasing