Hamilton County budget hearings

CARTA

Tom Dugan, executive director of the Chattanooga Area Region Transportation Authority, said CARTA was requesting the same amount it received — a little more than $3.9 million, with the city paying $3.85 million and the county contributing $105,200. Mr. Dugan said he realized this is a “difficult time.” At the same time, he told council members and county commissioners that the transportation authority received more than $4 million in federal stimulus money. The money is being used to hire local contractors for improvements to facilities as a way to create jobs, he said.

LIBRARY

The requested budget for the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library was a $1.186 million increase this year over last year’s $5.4 million budget. David Clapp, the library’s executive director, said the request was for a little more than $1 million in the capital budget to update the automation system and downtown library elevators. The expenditure would mean savings in the end because it would limit maintenance costs, he said. An extra $136,000 was placed in the operating budget for raises for five librarians who have not seen a salary increase since 2005, he said.

REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency requested the same level of funding as it received last year — about $990,000 from the city and the same from the county. But Executive Director Barry Bennett said he is “concerned as to whether or not we’re going to have to cut our staff.” He said “unforeseen expenses” could lead to staff reductions. Mr. Bennett said three planning positions now are vacant, and there are no plans to fill them.

ENTERPRISE SOUTH

Parks officials asked for $301,816 each from the city and county for the new park at Enterprise South industrial park. That’s up from $190,150 in 2008-09. Scott Schoolfield, administrator of Hamilton County’s Human Services Department, said officials are staffing for the park’s opening, which should happen next summer. He said workers are building trails on the park property.