Council funds UTC study to guide five‑year budget planning, approves up to $19,999

The Chattanooga City Council’s Budget & Finance Committee voted on Oct. 28 to appropriate up to $19,999 for a financial research proposal to be carried out by Dr. Chris Acuff of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The proposal was introduced by Councilman Henderson and discussed at length in committee before the full council vote.

Councilwoman Dotley summarized the project scope as providing revenue and expenditure projections, benchmarks, measures of fiscal health, peer‑city trend identification and potential policy recommendations to help the council plan for long‑term growth and upcoming budget cycles. Dr. Acuff told the committee the intent is to produce forward‑looking analysis and that he would provide recommendations as a “menu” of options for the council to consider — leaving policy adoption decisions to council discretion.

Council members sought clarity about whether the work would include actionable policy recommendations and whether the five‑year outlook would bind future councils. Dr. Acuff and council members said the study is intended to inform strategic planning and provide options; it would not legally bind future elected bodies. Committee members also discussed using the study as a basis for follow‑up training and strategic planning sessions with the administration.

Councilman Henderson moved to appropriate up to $19,999 for the research; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. Committee and administration contacts said a preliminary deliverable is expected in January and the council encouraged providing the administration a list of topics the body would like analyzed as part of the work.