An effort meant to bolster the Chattanooga City Council’s legislative independence might gain some ground this year. Council members again weighed a proposal that would give them a legislative support staff member.
Opinions on the proposal were split during Tuesday’s council meeting.
The position itself — which mirrors similar past positions supporting the council – isn’t in this year’s city budget, which elected officials and staff members alike have said is relatively tight amid a push to provide the city’s police and firefighters with raises. But some funding the council allocated for the current year could also support the new position.
Newly elected council member Ron Elliott of Missionary Ridge put the proposal for a new staffer forward in May, along with council Vice Chair Marvene Noel of Orchard Knob.
The staffer would help council members — the city’s legislators — with legislative project management, as well as with research for policy. The staffer would also deal with public relations and community engagement, Elliott said, and would draw a salary between $105,988 and $156,239, according to a memo sent to members of the council.