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Hamilton County 9‑1‑1 staff urge Chattanooga to fund telecommunicator pay increases to stop turnover
Summary
Representatives of Hamilton County Emergency Communications told council the center is now among the lowest-paid in Tennessee and urged a phased, multi-year pay plan and a funding commitment from client agencies; staff said the district will brief council and the mayor in September with detailed options.
Representatives of Hamilton County Emergency Communications addressed council during public comment to request financial support for a phased raise of telecommunicator salaries, arguing that the center’s starting pay has fallen behind comparable centers and that recruitment and retention have suffered.
Cheyenne Bedell (speaker 17) and Krista Gilliland (speaker 18) summarized the district’s position: the district is funded by payments from its client agencies (including the City of Chattanooga), the board approved a multi-year schedule to phase in raises, and without city participation the district cannot implement competitive starting pay. Bedell and Gilliland said the district delayed implementation out of respect for pending raises for police and firefighters, but that the funding shortfall remains and will increase turnover risk.
Jeff Carney (speaker 19), the district executive director, told council the district’s internal study of in-state comparables showed the center near the bottom of Tennessee peers and that Bradley County has recently increased pay past Hamilton County’s level. He said Chattanooga accounts for roughly 59% of client funding while handling about 66% of call volume. Carney added that the district requested an increase in the $0.901 wireless E‑911 fee but that the governor vetoed that change, limiting the district’s independent revenue options. Carney closed by saying the district will send the executive director and staff to a September strategic planning meeting with council and the mayor to explain options in detail.
Council response: Vice Chair Elliott and others said they appreciate dispatchers’ work and that council aims to be responsive. Elliott noted some procedural issues about who must authorize rate changes and urged the district to bring firm, board‑approved cost requests to the mayor’s office and council so they can be considered. The mayor’s office and council staff agreed to a more detailed briefing in September.
Outcome: No immediate funding decision was made; council scheduled a strategic planning briefing in September to review the district’s cost breakdown, board decisions and funding options.
