See what will be prioritized for the 2026 fiscal year in Hamilton County. | Photo by Kevin Ruck via Chattanooga Tourism Co.
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp released the proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year — let’s take a look at what the ~$1.09 billion budget entails.
Notably, while slightly higher than last year’s proposal, the balanced budget will not increase taxes. It focuses on public safety, infrastructure, and responsible stewardship. Key initiatives include:
Investing in county employees
Employees will receive a 1% raise, and a 10.7% increase in health insurance costs. Full-time employees will receive a one-time $750 bonus (excluding officials + the mayor’s office).
Public safety + infastructure
The budget would see these increases for public safety departments:
Sheriff’s Department | ~$71 million, 4.1% increase
Emergency Medical Service | ~$20 million, 4.3% increase — the quick response EMS team would also see an increase of 3.4%
Volunteer Fire Departments | $2.4 million across seven stations
The budget also sets aside $2.55 million for paving — adding to the pre-existing $19.4 million paving investment under the Wamp Administration.
Networking and Neurodiversity Happy Hour | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Floor Five of The Edney Innovation Center | Free, RSVP | Connect with professionals in a casual setting + explore AI tools to boost your resume.
Wednesday Bike Rides | 6-7 p.m. | The Dragon Lounge | Free | Enjoy a low-traffic + scenic 8-mile ride that’s suitable for all skill levels.
Thursday, May 22
Thirsty Thursday | 6 p.m. | AT&T Field | $8+ | Cheer on the Lookouts as they go head-to-head with the Trash Pandas + sip on $2 beer deals — don’t miss the Mascot Race.
Friday, May 23
Nightfall | 6-10 p.m. | Miller Park and Plaza | Free+ | Grab your picnic blanket and settle down for the Lost Bayou Ramblers with local opener Lew Card.
Saturday, May 24
Fairy and Folk Festival | Saturday, May 24-Sunday, May 25 | 10 a.m.-9 p.m. | Audubon Acres | $12+ | Dust off your fairy wings and break out your 20-sided die for this celebration of nature and folklore.
Pool Opening Day | 12:30-4:45 p.m. | Warner Park | $3 | Soak up the sun and splash around for the first pool day of the season.
Monday, June 2
Summer Camp at Reflection Riding | Monday, June 2-Friday, Aug. 1 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center | $275+ | Summer Camp at Reflection Riding is more than a day at the park: It’s a 300-acre classroom filled with hands-on discovery, wildlife encounters, and outdoor adventures that ignite young minds.*
After 10 years of lululemon’s iconic yoga pant, meet the new version
Presented by The Buy
Graphic by 6AM City
Fun fact: It’s been 10 years since the Align™ pant was released — lululemon’s buttery-soft, functional yoga pant that’s amassed many a devoted fan.
Extra fun fact: In honor of the anniversary, lululemon just dropped lululemon Align No Line™, which has everything great about the original, just no front-rise seam.
McCallie School is going viral and tugging at our heartstrings with a recent video. Join over 4.8 million viewers + watch as five seniors reflect on their education, growth, and interests — by re-answering questions they were asked when they were 6th graders.
Open
McKamey Animal Center + the City of Red Bank have partnered to open two Pet Resource Centers. Located at Red Bank Fire Stations 1 and 2 on Dayton Boulevard, the centers are equipped with microchip scanners for lost animals and pet pantries with food and other supplies.
Coming Soon
The folks behind Bollywood Tacos announced a new business venture on Main Street — Main St. Lounge. When open, the space will be a 21+ cigar and hookah spot offering cocktails and food.
Community
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will host its annual Torchlight Tour on Monday, May 26. Starting at 8:45 p.m., you can enjoy a free guided tour featuring graves and stories of soldiers who fought in the Civil War.
Eat
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Easy Bistro & Bar will host James Beard-nominated Julia Sullivan today from open to close. Sullivan is the owner of Henrietta Red in Nashville + Judith in Sewanee.
Try This
Local advertising agency Humanaut is seeking men in their 20s-50s to be extras in its upcoming commercial shoot for Oars + Alps sunscreen on Sunday, May 25. Extras will be paid to play a game of dodgeball on camera — answer the casting call.
Real Estate
What if building a house could be as simple as building a car? Inspired by Ford and Tesla’s manufacturing process, BOXABL’s mission is to makeupscale, low-cost housing available globally by bringing assembly line automation to the housing industry. Learn more.†‡*
It’s time to finally say you do know the Muffin Man. | Photo provided by McKee Foods
...The one who lives on Drury Lane in Collegedale? The Little Debbie Muffin Man, the mascot championing beloved snacks like mini muffins, has embarked on a Birthday Tour + will end his celebration in his hometown on Sunday, June 1.
The Muffin Man’s journey began in April, when he went to several destinations in Louisville, KY like the Louisville Slugger Museum. This month, he went to Music City for an appearance at the Nashville Sounds baseball game.
Starting at 11 a.m., folks can head to the Little Debbie Park for meet and greets with the Muffin Man and his mascot friends + mini muffin tastings. You can also bring non-perishable food donations for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank as a gift — anddon’t forget to sign his birthday card.
Bonus: The celebration also includes the Little Debbie 7-mile, 5K + Kids Dash at 8 a.m. — register online.
The Buy
A teeth whitening pen that can eliminate surface stains to provide results within just 10 minutes. With continued use, it may even help your teeth become up to 10 shades brighter.
This is for my fellow concertgoers — Live Nation’s $30 Ticket to Summer begins today featuring deals for various artists that have upcoming shows around the Chattanooga area. You’ll see me at Kesha’s concert in Nashville + Peach Pit and Briston Maroney in Atlanta.
‡This is a paid advertisement for BOXABL’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.boxabl.com. Reserving a Nasdaq ticker does not guarantee a future listing on Nasdaq or indicate that BOXABL meets any of Nasdaq’s listing criteria to do so.
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