City Council unanimously approved Mayor Tim Kelly’s $350 million operating city budget on its second reading — so what does that mean for Chattanoogans? We’re here to break it down.
You can break down the budget by service, program, and more. | Screenshot via City of Chattanooga
💰 The big stuff
First things first, what you’re probably skimming this article to find — the budget has no tax increases.
The budget goes into effect July 1 and lasts through June 30, 2023.
It’s built around Kelly’s One Chattanooga Plan (more on that here, in case you missed it).
The new budget features $10 million for additional road paving — we know y’all are pumped about that one — $33 million towards affordable housing, $2 million towards homelessness prevention + rehousing efforts, and a 3% raise in the city’s minimum wage.
💰 The nitty gritty (broken down by service)
41.51% | Public Safety | Beyond police + fire department expenditures, it will fund violence intervention programs, victim services, and CPD’s recently launched deterrence efforts and Crisis Response Unit, plus a new executive director of community safety and gun violence prevention.
35.99% | General Government | City employee salaries, water quality management fees, intergovernmental relations, IT, internal audit, etc.
10.73% | Public Works | Garbage pickup, solid waste disposal, building maintenance, brush pickup, city engineer, etc.
4.19% | Education + Community Development | Early learning, code enforcement office, homeless and supportive housing, neighborhood services, rec centers, etc.
2.22% | Agencies | CARTA, Chambliss Center for Children, United Way of Greater Chattanooga, ArtsBuild, and the Urban League are among the top agencies in this section of the budget.
Chattanooga Social Mixer | Thurs., June 16 | 5-7 p.m. | Naked River Brewing, 1791 Reggie White Blvd. | Free, RSVP | Network with insurance industry professionals.
Buzzed Bee Adult Spelling Bee: Drag Rave Edition | Thurs., June 16 | 8:30-11 p.m. | Wanderlinger Brewing Co. | Free+ | Test your spelling skills and win prizes with celebrity drag judges — first place gets a $40 gift certificate. 🐝
Friday
Nightfall | Fri., June 17 | 7 p.m. | Miller Plaza | Free | Opposite Box and Original FBI will perform at the free concert this Friday. 🎶
Jeff D | Fri., June 17 | 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. | The Comedy Catch | $17+ | Comedian Jeff D is known for his unique, Southern-style humor — this show is rated R.
Chattanooga Lookouts: Star Wars Night | Fri., June 17 | 7:15 p.m. | AT&T Field | $6+ | Travel with the Lookouts to a galaxy far, far away during Star Wars Night, ft. fireworks + Star Wars jerseys to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. ⚾ *
Saturday
Annual 100 Dinner | Sat., June 18 | 6-9 p.m. | Crabtree Farms | $150+ | This fundraising event features food + beverages sourced from within 100 miles of the farm.
Get Outside for Pride! Picnic & Paddle | Sat., June 18 | 12:30-3:30 p.m. | Greenway Farms Park, 5051 Gann Store Rd. | Free+ | This beginner-friendly paddle board tour + picnic features lunch from Cashew. 🧺
Legacy Music Festival | Sat., June 18 | 8 p.m. | Miller Park | Free | Enjoy an outdoor screening of “Summer of Soul,” a documentary about The Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969 — local musicians will also pay homage to artists who performed at the 1969 event.
Solstice Hafla & International Market | Sat., June 18 | 6-9 p.m. | White Oak Park | Free+ | Enjoy food, live music, dancing, vendors, and more at this outdoor market. 🍲
Sunday
Father’s Day Throw | Sun., June 19-Thurs., June 23 | Various times | Craft Axe Throwing, 619 Camp Jordan Pkwy. | Free+ | Dads throw free for this Father’s Day celebration. 🪓
Juneteenth Commemoration Ceremony & Concert | Sun., June 19 | 7 p.m. | UTC’s Chamberlain Pavilion, 615 McCallie Ave. | Free | Bring your lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy food, vendors, and performances —featuring American Idol winner Ruben Studdard.
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
National Drink Up Week is July 25-31. | Photo by NOOGAtoday
Raise your glasses. This toast is dedicated to Chattanooga’s beverage industry, from morning iced lattes to afternoon power smoothies and evening specialty cocktails. We appreciate what makes our local drink scene unique.
And to kick off our National Drink Up Week, July 25-31, we want to partner with local coffee shops, wineries, bars, restaurants, distilleries + more to shine a spotlight on our local beverage tastemakers. Find out more below.
High heat and humidity will continue in the area this week. As highs are expected to top out in the mid to upper-90s, the Local 3 weather team recommends taking frequent breaks from outdoor work or exercise, staying hydrated, and avoiding leaving your children or pets in hot vehicles. ☀️ (Local 3)
DYK
Did you know that the world’s largest woodturning event hits Chattanooga this month? The annual International Woodturning Symposium will take place at the Chattanooga Convention Center Thurs., June 23-Sat., June 26, with more than 1,000 makers from around the world gathering to explore the craft of woodturning.
Traffic
Broad Street between W. Aquarium Way and W. 3rd Street is closed due to ongoing underground repairs — nearby sidewalk access is also closed. Ochs Highway between the Guild Trail and Everett Street is closed due to downed power lines + trees. Use Scenic Highway as a detour. 🚧 (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Biz
The Cure Charcuterie — a “luxury graze + specialty food service” — launched a sister company, The Cure Kids. More details to come, but the new company’s already shared sneak peeks of its Mickey Mouse-themed kid’s party collection fit for birthday parties or picnics. 🧀
Cause
Cempa Community Care + the Chattanooga CARES Foundation are partnering to host the annual Dining Out For Life campaign on Thurs., June 23. During this event, participating restaurants across the city will donate a portion of their earnings to support Cempa’s work in providing essential HIV services + high-quality care. 🍽️ (The Pulse)
Local McDonald’s owner-operators recently launched “Happy Meals for the House,” a fundraiser supporting the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Chattanooga. Through Sat., June 18, 10% of proceeds from all Happy Meal sales at local McDonald’s will be donated to the organization. 🍟 (Chattanoogan.com)
Arts
Chattanooga will be one of 15 stops on the Kyiv City Ballet’s US tour. The Ukrainian ballet company is scheduled for three performances at UTC’s newly renovated Roland Hayes Auditorium in October. Ticket prices will be announced at a later date. (The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga)
Shop
The St. Elmo Maker’s Market will take place on Sat., June 18 from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. at The Secret Garden. Shop small from local vendors in the morning and enjoy cornhole, beer pong, and raffle prizes during the evening. 🛍️
Survey
Take the survey, win $1,000 cash. Take a brief survey to let us know what you think about the NOOGAtoday newsletter + be entered into a drawing to win cash.
Eat
Skip the meal hassle with Sunbasket, a meal kit delivery service that makes healthy eating beyond easy. Sunbasket offers 10 different meal plans that work for those with dietary preferences and specific restrictions (think: paleo, gluten-free, veg, diabetes-friendly + more). Bonus: Sign up for $100 off your first four deliveries. 🫑 *
A health message from our sponsor
“Dark spots are just blemishes, and blemishes can be banished. I’ve managed to create a breakthrough solution that allows anyone to reduce the appearance of troublesome age spots, sun spots, and liver spots — no matter your skin type.”*
Content marked with a * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.
This morning, EPB’s 10th Street mural artists + community partners will celebrate the completion of 11 new community murals.
The murals are on the side of EPB’s substation wall at 10th and Foster Streets for the second year of EPB’s 10th Street Mural Project.
Pictured here is Jerome Foster’s piece, “Fostering a Colorful Moment in Time” (and a sneak peek of the next door mural by Ann Jackson + Mimi McAllister — but you’ll have to go see the rest in person).
#DYK that your photos and quotes could be featured in our newsletter?
Editor’s pick: Well gang, I’m officially off to get married! While I’m gone, expect some killer newsletters from my partner-in-crime Kristen + everyone’s favorite “Chattanoogan in spirit,” Dayten — maybe even a lil somethin’ from our brilliant intern, Gabriella. I’ll catch ya on the flippity-flip, Nooga (with some local wedding advice in tow, if you want any).
Missed yesterday’s newsletter? How to help lend a hand with locals experiencing homelessness.
Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.
