Audio clip
Mayor Ron Littlefield
Mayor Ron Littlefield says he'll go along with whatever the City Council decides when it comes to the direction of the city's water quality program.
"They just have to make a decision," Mr. Littlefield said.
The council's independent committee on water quality laid out its proposal two weeks ago, cutting the current water quality, or stormwater, budget in half -- from $21.5 million to $10 million.
Mr. Littlefield presented his alternative last week, which cut the program budget to $12 million the first year, but ramps up to $16.7 million by the fifth year.
"I laid it out as simply as possible," he said.
Along with the two budget proposals, the council also could keep the program's current $21.5 million budget or come up with its own budget.
The council voted in October to hike the fee of water quality, or stormwater, from $36 a year to $115.20 a year for residences. Nonresidential users pay more because they can qualify as multiple residences.
After furious public outcry, the council established the independent committee in December to examine how to alleviate problems with the water quality hike.
Council Chairman Jack Benson said he was "sort of in between" the budgets from the committee and the mayor. Both plans have strong points, he said.
"They probably won't have all the success they wanted, but the mayor won't, either," Mr. Benson said.
One of the sticking points for Mr. Benson is credits, he said. The city's credit program makes it possible for nonresidential users to receive up to 75 percent off their bill the first year. The credit drops to 50 percent in subsequent years.
The committee's recommendation is that the credits be indefinitely placed at a maximum of 75 percent off the bill.
Mr. Benson said he fears dropping the credits would mean that not as many people would take advantage of the incentives.
The committee's proposal also calls for a flat $10 million budget each year, while the mayor's plan starts out at $12 million with a break to nonresidential users on the front end. Nonresidential users would be required to pay the same as residential users by the fifth year.
The mayor's plan also allows $3 million to $5 million per year be spent on capital improvement projects. The committee's plan has no solid revenue stream for future projects, records show.
Councilwoman Carol Berz said last week she said she does not expect a decision by Tuesday on what plan the council would choose, nor would she want a decision that fast.
Council members felt rushed in October when the initial budget was set, she said.
"Last time, we were forced into a decision," she said.
Councilwoman Pam Ladd said she knows nonresidential users were hit with a massive fee hike, but the city also faces federal and state regulators who want to know the city has a program that works.
She said she is leaning toward the administration's budget because it seems more "palatable."
"It's probable that we could come up with something on our own that puts it in the middle," she said.
WHAT'S NEXT
The City Council has called a special meeting 2 p.m. Tuesday to talk about the city's water quality program.
Bill Raines, chairman of the independent committee, said the water quality panel was successful in its mission. He noted that mayor dropped from the program's original $21.5 million budget to $12 million.
"That's $10 million not on the (tax)payers out there," he said.
The mayor's plan could still be a hardship on businesses and churches, he said, but "they'll have to live with it."
"I don't think it will be easy or comfortable," he said.
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 think Mr. Littlefield and his crews are trying to cheat the chattanoogan residents the business group and the churches. All what he said and did were useless things. Fixing Hixson roads, which is hopeless now. The storm water fee is another thing which Mr. Littlefield and his people in his office trying to bring. This is just to fill their pocket and trying to have great dinners for them and their families. Everyone in this country knows we are all in bad economic stage, Why these people can't understand? I think because their motive is to fill their pocket and they are trying to make some excuses using committe. Who made this indepedent committe? Mr. Littlefield and his crew. Who are they? They belong to their group. So what I think we Chattanogans residents, business, churches should unite together and should show our power to this group saying that "your ideas are not going to work". we are trying to survive with $7.500 to $12.00/hr and they want all the money to their pocket. Count what else is comming: more property tax, more permit tax, more sewerage tax! What we are getting? No jobs, Loosing our houses, loosing our business, loosing our churches. We need to unite together make a RALLY to the city office. We need a change in chattanooga. We don't want unnecssary taxes on our shoulders.
The mayor's fetish for water issues is slightly disturbing.
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