Some Chattanooga City Council members — and some Chattanooga taxpayers — initially seemed to be shocked into silence when they first heard Mayor Ron Littlefield’s budget proposal that would require a 64-cent city property tax increase.
But after catching their breath about the bad news that the budget proposal would require a property tax rise from $1.94 o $2.58 per $100 of property valuation — in a time of economic recession and high unemployment — some City Council members have recovered their voices enough to begin suggesting some cuts in city budgeting to, at least, reduce the proposed big tax increase.
Some of the city’s basic services, such as police and fire protection, could not comfortably yield to significant economies. Some other suggested cuts would be quite unpopular. And some would yield very little tax relief.
How can City Council members make enough big cuts to provide real relief from higher taxes? That’s the hard question many council members are encountering.
Among the economy suggestions are closing Memorial Auditorium and selling The Chattanoogan hotel, cutting Outdoor Chattanooga and some recreational programs, reducing street cleaning to every other day, combining some departments, and more.
No cuts would be desirable. Some would not save much. But some city officials are convinced that not substantially reducing a suggested 64-cent tax increase during recession and high unemployment would be worse.
Expanding government services is often popular, but reducing them can be quite painful.
We commend the City Council members who are seeking economy measures to reduce the proposed tax increase below the 64-cent tax rise proposal. City taxpayers surely will encourage them — and should avoid criticism if some city spending is cut to reduce a big higher tax blow.