Audio clip
Carol Berz
There may not be much more room for movement on the 37 cent tax increase the City Council passed, council members said Wednesday.
"Given the vote we had, it's pretty firm," said Councilwoman Carol Berz, chairwoman of the Budget, Finance and Personnel Committee.
The council voted 6-3 Tuesday night on the 19 percent tax increase, the first possible city tax hike since Sept. 11, 2001. The council will vote again next Tuesday for the second and final reading. If approved, the budget will take effect.
Councilmen Russell Gilbert and Peter Murphy, along with Councilwoman Deborah Scott, voted against the budget.
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Staff photo by Allison Kwesell Chattanooga Times Free Press - Protesters gather around the Chattanooga City Council Building before a Chattanooga City Council meeting to vote on a 37 cents per $100 of assessed value tax increase.
No work sessions or council meetings have been scheduled this week to talk about the budget. Dr. Berz said the first part of Tuesday morning's meeting will be to see if any questions linger about the 2010-2011 fiscal year budget. If there are none, the council will move onto next fiscal year's capital budget, she said.
The new budget includes money to fix pay for the Police Department, one new police academy and return recreation centers to normal operating hours. The budget did not include employee pay raises or money for extra firefighters.
The council also cut almost $1 million from city-supported agencies, reformed future retiree medical benefits and money to city departments.
Mrs. Scott said Wednesday she still planned on trying to find more cuts.
"I'm still interested in reducing the budget," she said. "I don't know who else will be interested in working with me. We'll see."
She proposed Tuesday upping a percentage of the hotel/motel tax from 4 percent to 5 percent, a move that could garner almost $1 million. But that fund can only be used to pay down debt of the 21st Century Waterfront.
She also proposed getting a list of all city assets to see what could potentially be sold.
Council Chairman Manny Rico said there might be some council members who find a penny or two in savings. That could come up as an amendment next week, he said.
"I don't see where they're going to find it," he said. "They went through the budget item by item."
Mr. Murphy said Wednesday he did not have a good feel that anything would change. He said he "doubted any amendments would pass."
"Six to three tells me those who favor the budget have the votes," he said.
WHAT'S NEXT
The City Council will vote Tuesday on the second and final reading of the 2010-2011 fiscal year budget during its 6 p.m. regularly scheduled business meeting. If approved, the ordinance would raise taxes by 37 cents.
Cliff has worked for the Times Free Press for five years and covers Chattanooga city government. He previously covered Rhea County, as well as transportation and growth and development in Southeast Tennessee. A native of Maryville, Tenn., Cliff graduated in 2003 from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on journalism. Before coming to Chattanooga, he was a crime reporter with Hernando Today, a supplement of The Tampa (Fla.) ...
I am one taxpayer in the City. I have a limited voice & influence. I will use all my energies in the future to defeat those Council members who vote for this budget & the Mayor who proposed same. I will support the three Council members who voted against this local power grab & expansion of an out of control government at all levels. Hopefully , two more Council members will change their votes to "NO" between now & the second vote.
I listened with interest yestersday to the talk show host wannabe Andre McGary. The arrogance was beyond belief. His mocking of the three council members that voted against the tax increase, was nothing more than self serving tripe. McGary is an opportunist of the highest order, perhaps we need to find out what really brought him to Chattanooga.
There has not been a tax increase in 9 years. Taxes will not stay the same forever. Given the lost revenue from property tax due to foreclosures and less sales tax money because people are buying less it was pretty obvious a tax increase was going to happen. It amuses me that people always scream about cutting more as long as it is not some benefit they enjoy.
Boy folks are pissed off and they got a right to be. What do they think that taxes just come out of nowhere and pennys just fall from the sky.
Taxes and more taxes the mayor love it !
Andre McGary is hanging from puppet strings and Mayor Ron.Littlefield is the one who pulls those strings well.
McGary is an opportunist of the highest order, perhaps we need to find out what really brought him to Chattanooga.
Username: ordinaryguy | On: July 1, 2010 at 8:19 a.m.
The answer to this qustion is quite simple he was lead to Chattanooge becasue of money / fame / and being able to have the chance to become one of the powerful new person in the * River City * committee.
And to be show cased as a * Southern Michael Steele * for the GOP here in Hamliton county.
They know that they have not brought in enough Blacks into the GOP here in Chattanooga and most people like looking at young fresh faces.
Andre McGary = JC Watts
Lots of hot air but will not get any thing of value for the Black community here in the city.
The way Robert T.Nash was kicked off of WGOW 104.4fm and Andre getting the slot that fast was just a little to cheesy for me.
That's the way the power elite here in the city does busniess it's always under the table and only will be a gain for a small circle of very weathly people who run this city and county.
They just got * Andre McGary * for show so that they can clean up there image of being one side and somewhat racist at times.
First----I am against the ANY TAX INCREASE.... and now is the WORST TIME EVER FOR ONE. I think the Mayor and the council are out of control and their spending habits are OUT of CONTROL. If they pass this hike I believe we should all show them what we think of it in the next election cycle...and boot 'em all out!
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