CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The city of Chattanooga continues to discuss how to raise 23 million dollars to increase police officer and firefighter pay.
During a series of budget discussions, one Chattanooga Councilman offered an idea.
Councilman Chip Henderson said during a budget session he surveyed residents in District 1 on how they would like the city to pay for first responder raises.
He said that he asked them, “Would you rather see a tax increase or cut services? So I listed “Name three.” Curbside recycling did come up in that survey as one of the services they said to cut.”
Henderson says cutting curbside recycling would save $1.3 million dollars per year.
However, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly issued a statement blasting that proposal, saying that curbside recycling is a vital resource for many Chattanoogans.
Stephanie Cepak, the mayor’s press secretary said, “Last year, almost 30,000 tons of materials were recycled in places like this recycling center and curbside. Those are all residents of Chattanooga choosing to put it into a recycling bin instead of a garbage landfill.”
The city employs 8 people in recycling pick up according to the city’s Public Works Department.
They also have an agreement with the Orange Grove Center to staff those recycling centers.
Mayor Kelly’s Office says that cutting this program would only save less than one half of one percent of the city’s budget, and wouldn’t pay for first responder pay increases.
Cepak said, “The mayor doesn’t believe we need cuts in the budget because we have already cut due to inflation, and due to making government responsive and more efficient. Really it’s about having that talk with Council and working out other ways to find the revenue.”
The mayor’s office also says getting rid of the service would fly in the face of Chattanooga’s recent designation as a National Park City.
Cepak said, “The National Park City is part of who we are and who we want to be here in Chattanooga. So if something like recycling is taken away, that doesn’t reflect on the city that we are, and who we want to be.”
Councilman Henderson has not formally introduced this proposal as a resolution.
