Chattanooga City Council Budget Education Session #1 - 05/12/2026

The Chattanooga City Council held a budget education session on May 12, 2026, reviewing various departmental budgets and discussing procurement and staffing needs. Key procurement-related topics included the allocation of $4 million for replacing small equipment citywide, the reorganization and addition of three assistant director positions in the Community Development Department to improve operational efficiency, and funding for a manager position to oversee an expanded gun violence prevention program. The council also discussed the police department's budget increase of $5.5 million, primarily for salaries and benefits, and the transfer of certain operational costs such as 911 services to other departments. Special event security costs, including a $600,000 allocation for FIFA World Cup team security, were addressed, noting that much of the security is funded through extra job contracts rather than the police budget. Additionally, the council debated the creation and funding of a new legislative policy position within the council office, with discussions on salary caps and the inclusion of constituent services. Capital improvement projects mentioned included fire station maintenance and police services center renovations. The session emphasized the need for strategic staffing, budget transparency, and outcome-based programming across departments.