City officials said Tuesday the upcoming city budget will not include a tax increase. Ryan Ewalt, chief operating officer, said that was reached through some “very hard decisions,” including eliminating 29 positions.
Fifteen of those positions were vacant. However, 14 filled positions across six departments are being cut. Those include eight full-time employees and six part-time.
The budget includes new step plans designed to increase pay for non-sworn employees. Hourly employees will get credit for years of service with over two-thirds receiving average four percent pay hikes. Salaried employees are due two steps in increases for approximately a two percent cost of living raise. For appointment employees, it will be 1.5 percent cost of living.
The budget includes two new Short Term Vacation Rental (STVR) inspectors and a new Administrative Hearing Officer, who will handle STVR matters and other issues. The AHO will have the ability to issue fines of up to $500 per violation.
The city plans to buy seven new garage trucks and hire four additional drivers.
Officials said the city for the second year in a row will put $10 million into the paving program.
Nine new firefighters are in the budget along with five new fire trucks.
The spending plan includes $1.3 million for Provence Park and $1 million to revitalize the Skate Park near Finley Stadium.
Officials said $150,000 will go toward helping the Chattanooga Airport land new connections.
The city will once again put $765,000 into pay supplements for Head Start teachers.
The budget includes $1.5 million for a new fire training tower.
The city will provide $820,000 to the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition and fund the Chatt Foundation’s cold weather shelter. It will continue the effort to convert the Airport Inn on Lee Highway for 80+ units of supportive housing.