Bradley County mayor previews balanced budget with employee pay increases as residents and commissioners raise sewer-bill concerns

County Mayor D. Gary Davis told the Bradley County Commission at a March 23 work session that he plans to submit a balanced budget "utilizing growth and existing revenue" that will include pay increases for all Bradley County employees. He did not provide dollar amounts, a department-by-department breakdown, or an adoption timeline.

The announcement drew immediate attention from commissioners and members of the public concerned about household costs. Resident Tim Smith said sewer bills "are unacceptable," arguing that, after recent property reassessments and a tax increase this year, residents could not afford "an additional 12% increase to fund the budget request." Mayor Davis clarified to the commission that no formal budget proposal had been filed yet, describing the item as a budget request document rather than a finalized plan.

Commissioner Howard Thompson reported a specific household bill spike tied to the Ocoee Utility District, saying he received a sewer and water bill that rose from $36.00 to $102.00 in a single month. Vice Chairman Tim Mason suggested inviting Ocoee Utility District officials to a future work session so the utility could explain the unexplained increase. The commission did not vote or formally direct staff to summon the utility during the work session; the request was raised for consideration.

Other speakers urged fiscal caution. John Hamilton said residents could not afford a tax increase and told the commission growth from new home construction should largely support county needs; he also suggested auditing the number of undocumented individuals in local schools, a request the commission did not act on during the session. Ed Elkins urged officials to keep taxes low to foster continued growth.

The meeting record does not show any motions, votes, or schedule changes to the budget timetable. The work session included a variety of routine reports and community announcements but ended without formal action on the mayor's budget preview. The commission's next voting session is scheduled for April 6, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the courthouse.