After four weeks of budget education sessions, it's almost time for the Chattanooga City Council to vote on Mayor Andy Berke's proposed fiscal year 2020 budget. Here are three things you should know about the process:
1. The public hearing is Tuesday. The public's chance to voice their opinions to council members is at this week's 6 p.m. council meeting. Members of the public can address the council about any thoughts, questions or concerns they have with the budget at the beginning of the meeting. Each speaker will be given three minutes to speak. The meeting will take place in the city council chambers of the council building located at 1000 Lindsay St.
2. The first vote is next week. Council will vote for the first of two times on the budget ordinances on June 11 at the 6 p.m. meeting. The second and final vote will be at the 6 p.m. council meeting on June 25. Both council meetings will be held in the chambers of the council building.
3. Council will review the five-year capital improvement plan Tuesday. Before the vote next Tuesday, council will have one more budget education session at which the proposed capital improvement plan will be discussed, any issues left over from previous budget sessions will be readdressed and final comments will be shared. The session will take place in the conference room of the council building from 10 a.m. to about 1:30 p.m.
To access the full budget, visit budget.chattanooga.com.
Contact Sarah Grace Taylor at staylor@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6416.