County budget hearing highlights fleet electrification, park repairs and reclassification of supported agencies

County staff told Hamilton County commissioners during a general‑government budget hearing that the proposed fiscal year budget includes several operational and capital changes including a fleet electrification purchase, higher park maintenance and capital needs shared with the city, reclassification of supported agencies into departmental functions, and continued funding for volunteer fire and emergency services.

On fleet management, county staff said the proposed capital outlay increase largely reflects a plan to replace existing leased vehicles and acquire 30 electric vehicles under a federal grant that would pay roughly 80% of the cost. A staff member said the increase of about $1,670,000 in capital outlay would be offset by approximately $1,300,000 in grant funding and would result in fewer leases going forward.

Asked for details about mileage and assignment of leased vehicles, county staff said a vehicle‑by‑vehicle review is underway and that staff would provide a report with assignment and mileage data to commissioners before budget adoption. Staff said some low‑mileage leased vehicles are being returned and older, high‑mileage county‑owned vehicles would be prioritized for replacement where appropriate.

On parks and capital projects, staff described a $435,000 increase in needs at Enterprise South Nature Park for items such as parking lot repairs, restroom upgrades and road repairs; staff said such costs are typically split 50/50 with the City of Chattanooga and that roughly half of that increase would be covered by corresponding city revenues. Similarly, the Riverpark infrastructure line item was cited as funding for bridge repairs and maintenance with shared city contributions.

Staff also described a budget presentation change that moves supported agencies out of a single “supported agencies division” and into the county divisions that most closely match their mission (public safety, health, parks, etc.). Staff said the intent is to improve day‑to‑day accountability by assigning division administrators responsibility for oversight of the organizations the county funds; commissioners expressed caution and asked for transparency about how allocations would be managed and protected from intra‑division transfers.

Commissioners raised public safety and volunteer fire department funding. County staff reported the county’s allocation for volunteer fire, HAZMAT, the county rescue squad and related emergency support is $2,934,677 for the coming year and commissioners expressed interest in identifying a stable, dedicated revenue source for those services.

Other items discussed included a plan to add two risk/compliance‑related positions (described by staff as a privacy officer and a security officer) contingent on a Baker Donaldson study, and line‑level changes in the health department that staff said reflected transfers, grant‑funded positions, and a net departmental reduction overall.

Commissioners asked for follow‑up documents — a vehicle assignment/mileage report, clarification on what projects are covered by the bond proceeds and city matches for park projects, and a schedule for any proposed new positions — before final budget adoption.