PDF: City of Chattanooga Budget 2011
Mayor Ron Littlefield's proposed tax increase would raise property taxes by 64-cents, funding a $198.6 million budget, records show.
The mayor is asking for expanding the Chattanooga Police Department, hiring additional firefighters for the new fire hall at Enterprise South, an expanded contract with Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department to handle recently annexed areas and restoration of hours at recreation center hours, records show.
The last property tax increase was Sept. 11, 2001 when the council approved about a 50-cent tax hike. The average property tax rate for a $131,000 home would go up from $635 a year to $844 a year, if the tax rate is proposed, records show.
The current tax rate is $1.939 per $100 of assessed value and the proposed rate would go to $2.578 per $100 of assessed value, or a 33 percent tax increase, city records show.
The city's budget last year was about $175 million, city officials said.
Mr. Littlefield's staff is presenting the budget to the council today during a special-called meeting. The council will debate the measure over the next several weeks in hopes of passing a budget by June 30.
For more information, read tomorrow's edition of the Times Free Press.