The Hamilton County Commission unanimously approved its $638 million budget Thursday, with the ninth vote coming from newly seated District 8 Commissioner Tim Boyd.
Commissioners seated Boyd early so District 8 would be represented when they voted on the budget.
Boyd took the oath of office and thanked all the elected officials present.
"This is going to be a great County Commission," he said.
BY THE NUMBERS* $638 million: Budget for 2010-11* $371.9 million: School portion* $197.3 million: General fund* $34.2 million: Debt service* $26.8 million: Sheriff's fund* $2.2 million: Juvenile Court ClerkSource: Hamilton County Commission
The budget contains no tax increase, Mayor Claude Ramsey said. The new budget is up from $627 million in 2009-10.
The largest portion of the budget - $371.9 million - goes to the county's schools. The schools budget is up $12.9 million from last year.
Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Jim Scales said most of the cost increases had to do with school staff. Health insurance increased, as did costs for staffing new schools, East Hamilton School and Signal Mountain High-Middle schools.
The amount the county spends on its debt will decrease by $1.5 million this year.
The commission also approved spending millions on nonprofit, charitable and civic groups. Commissioners will give Erlanger Medical Center $3 million and the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library $2.7 million.
Commissioner Larry Henry called it "essentially a flat budget."
Boyd said he studied the budget before assuming his duties Thursday.
"I actually think its very good for Hamilton County residents," Boyd said, adding later, "It's going to be a budget that doesn't have a lot of controversy."