A debate could be stirring over how best to spend up to $3 million taken from Chattanooga’s general fund to prop up the stormwater program.
“We have to look at if any of this $3 million can continue to be spent on water quality,” Council Chairman Jack Benson said. “That’s still an option. I think it might be a necessary option.”
City officials said that since 1993, millions of dollars have been spent from the general fund to supplement the water quality program, also known as the stormwater program.
The city also put into the stormwater program about $1.1 million from state street aid, gasoline tax revenues that are supposed to be used for road programs.
Deputy Public Works Administrator Lee Norris said the general fund money could be used for any city need, including water quality.
But Mayor Ron Littlefield said last week he had other plans for the money that’s been propping up the stormwater program, even though it’s a drop in the city’s $167.5 million budget.
“I would like to hope that it would give the general fund some relief and state street aid could go back to paying for streets,” he said.
“Three million will help, but if you look at the whole budget, it’s not a lot of money,” Mr. Littlefield said.
Even the $22 million the city has proposed for the water quality program might not be enough, he said.
“It could come up short,” Mr. Littlefield said.
The city will get $22 million only if all money is collected, he said. The city will also get less if property owners get credits for decreasing the flow of stormwater into the sewer system.
In October, the City Council raised the fee from $36 to $115 a year. The sudden move angered some businesses, industries and churches. Council members voted this week to go after unpaid fees owed by the state and federal government.
BY THE NUMBERS* $167.5 million: City budget for 2009-2010 fiscal year* $22 million: Water quality budget for 2009-10 fiscal year* $3 million: Estimated general fund money spent on water quality program last year* $1.1 million: Money spent from the state street aid, which goes to road maintenanceSource: Chattanooga
Mr. Benson said leaving the $3 million in the water quality fund could provide relief for some from the sudden, sharp fee hike.
“We’re going to have to examine that,” he said.
Mr. Norris, though, said it should go back to the general fund.
“We’re not getting any more money to pay for our roads,” he said. “And if you hadn’t noticed lately, our roads are falling apart. We’ve been robbing Peter to pay Paul. Now Peter’s broke and Paul is, too.”