The capital improvement budget failed to pass Tuesday night after City Council members thought the $6.5 million price tag was too high for a new parking deck that would mostly serve TVA.
“This is essentially a city building a parking garage for a federal agency,” said Councilwoman Deborah Scott.
The council voted 4-3 against approving the capital budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Councilmen Jack Benson, Russell Gilbert and Andraé McGary and Scott voted no.
Councilwoman Carol Berz and Councilman Peter Murphy were absent from the meeting.
Council members said a bad economy and paying so much for the Tennessee Valley Authority deck without Hamilton County agreeing to help foot the total $13 million bill was too risky.