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Friday, November 6, 2026Nov 6

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Hamilton County budget includes cuts to health and tourism funding, increases for public safety

Staff file photo by Larry Sullivan II / From left, Hamilton County Chief Operating Officer David Roddy, Chief Financial Officer Lee Brouner and County Mayor Weston Wamp listen during the County Commission budget meeting on Wednesday, Ma7 27, 2026.
Staff file photo by Larry Sullivan II / From left, Hamilton County Chief Operating Officer David Roddy, Chief Financial Officer Lee Brouner and County Mayor Weston Wamp listen during the County Commission budget meeting on Wednesday, Ma7 27, 2026. Staff file photo by Larry Sullivan II / From left, Hamilton County Chief Operating Officer David Roddy, Chief Financial Officer Lee Brouner and County Mayor Weston Wamp listen during the County Commission budget meeting on Wednesday, Ma7 27, 2026.

If the proposed Hamilton County budget for the upcoming fiscal year is approved, most organizations the county supports are set to gain funding — though a couple will face major cuts.

County Mayor Weston Wamp presented his $1 billion budget proposal Wednesday to the County Commission, which will consider it in June. The budget accounts for 2% raises across the board for county employees and increased health insurance premium coverage, alongside millions for road improvements and tech upgrades for several divisions.

Overall, the county’s sources of cash have increased by about $4.8 million — a little less than a 2% increase overall, mostly from upticks in sales tax and property tax revenue. With no tax increase proposed, accommodating raises and other projects meant finding places where the county could save, Wamp said in an interview.

(READ MORE: Chattanooga budget request includes funding for new citywide litter crew)

The county has reduced its employee head count by a few dozen, he said, and has found other efficiencies to cut down on cost in the 2026-27 fiscal year, which begins July 1.