Look Who it Was Random video

23-million Requested For Chattanooga Capital Budget

73 views · Published 21 June 2012 · 2:16 · Indexed 4 November 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2012 · News & Politics

Watch on YouTube

by John PlessChattanooga city leaders are asking for more than 00-million dollars for all kinds of projects, but can the city afford it?Every year at this time the City Council has to approve the capital budget which uses borrowed money paid back with taxpayer dollars. They have to pick what's most important, what can wait and what's "pie in the sky."This year hundreds of pages detail each department's request following a "thin" 2011/2012 fiscal year.Manuel Rico, Chattanooga City Council District 7, said "we say yes or no, we really don't pare it down because everything in there is a need, it's just how important it is and what's a priority and does it have to be done this year."Public Works wants streets paved, potholes fixed and traffic signals modernized. They want money to replace aging and expensive-to-maintain heavy equipment.The Fire Department wants to replace old, crumbling fire stations and fire engines that date back to 1982.And the Parks Department wants money to improve and upgrade the places people enjoy.We asked some people at Coolidge Park what they think should be at the top of the list.Frankie Hudson said "that's a hard question."We showed Hudson just how big the capital budget is. She's most concerned about maintaining what the city already has."I don't think they should annex property and streets that they can't keep up," Hudson said.Sharon Dragg said of all the things city leaders want she prefers money spent on recreation."I prefer my money to go for parks, building of parks, buildings and more activities," Dragg said.So once again the City Council will have to sift through it all and figure out what's important this year and what's not."Every department thinks their department is the most important and they've got to have everything, you know," Rico said.The City Council has scheduled a meeting next Tuesday to hash out what's a priority. That evening they have a reading and vote on the capital budget. In two weeks there will be a second reading and vote.In years past the City Council approved only a fraction of what was requested. And just like years past what they approve depends on how much money the City Council is willing to borrow to pay for the projects.

More from this channel