The Chattanooga City Council approved a $185 million budget with a 37-cent property tax increase on first reading Tuesday night, even as dozens of people protested the hike.
“We’ve tried to cut, tried to cut and we have,” said Councilman Jack Benson. “I hope we can find more ways to cut further.”
The council’s tax increase is 27 cents lower than Mayor Ron Littlefield’s initial budget proposal last month, which included a property tax increase of 64 cents per $100 of assessed value.
If approved next week on second reading, the increase will add right at $124 to the city tax bill for a $134,000 home, the median price in Chattanooga.
The vote was 6-3, with Russell Gilbert, Peter Murphy and Deborah Scott voting no.