Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp recently presented his proposed 2025 fiscal year budget for the county, notably without a property tax increase.
Note: The 2025 fiscal year will begin on Monday, July 1 + run through Monday, June 30, 2025.
Here’s a breakdown of the budget’s key initiatives:
Investing in young families
- Expanding the Health Department’s Parents as Teachers program through $800,000 of new grant funding.
- Establishing the Center for Thriving Families.
- Increasing funding for the Women, Infants, and Children program by $600,000.
Expanding road improvements
- Providing additional funding + equipment for the Highway Department to resurface 40+ miles of road and install reflectors on 15 county roads.
Improving community facilities + revitalizing the riverfront
- Investing $2 million in community parks (including significant upgrades to the Harrison Center + Birchwood Community Center).
- Enhancing youth recreation facilities across the county.
- Committing a preliminary amount of $700,000 to riverfront revitalization + Riverpark upgrades.
“Despite revenue constraints, we are proud to have prioritized innovative approaches in fighting the opioid crisis, substantial support for parents and young families, new investments in community parks, and an expanded investment into road infrastructure,” said Mayor Wamp.
Photo by @dynamostudios via @hamcotngov
Investing in county employees
- Allocating $4.2 million to cover increased health insurance costs.
- Providing a 2% cost of living increase (minimum of $1,000) for county employees.
Committing to public safety
- Funding for new drone software for the Office of Emergency Management + expanding funding for volunteer fire departments.
- Budgeting to allow for six additional school resource officers.
- Providing supplemental pay for the Hamilton County Juvenile Court.
- Expanding funding to the Partnership for Families, Children & Adults, the Children’s Advocacy Center + Family Justice Center.
Additionally, funding will go towards the creation of an Overdose Quick Response Team led by Hamilton County EMS to support overdose victims + facilitate rehabilitation plans.
Note: The Hamilton County Commission will vote on the proposed budget on Wednesday, June 26.
“We have prioritized our county employees to maintain the quality of services for our citizens,” said Mayor Wamp. “I look forward to collaborating with the Hamilton County Commission to implement this budget and support our growing community.”
