How are my taxpayer dollars being invested back into my community?

(Last updated 9/26/2024)

 

Maintaining excellent services citywide:

• Market-rate competitive wage adjustments starting in 2022 across all departments including achieving a citywide $18 minimum wage (for comparison firefighter starting pay alone was only $11.14/hr in 2020)

• Annual inflation-based cost of living adjustments (COLA) for ALL employees in subsequent years to maintain competitive wages:

  • 7% COLA in FY 22-24 (based on 8.2% Social Security COLA) 

  • 3% COLA in FY 24-25 (based on 3.2% Social Security COLA)

• Replacement of outdated and end-of-life equipment for all departments including:

  • Fire: Replacing a 1979 pumper truck, expired fire hose, rope, and radios

  • Police: Replacing six police cruisers, body cameras and radios

  • Public works: Replacement vehicles and radios

• Administration and finance: 

  • Certifying the city’s first HR professional, 

  • earning the Tennessee State Comptroller Certificate of Budget Excellence in both 2023 and 2024

 

Expanded services:

 

Restructured existing staff to create the Department of Community Development 

• Director of Community Development position

• Hired first Community Planner

• Received Tennessee Municipal League’s Award for Excellence in Strategic Planning

• Comprehensive Planning process underway including a Small Area Plan for the Former Red Bank Middle School Site

• Chattanooga Public Library cards are now available at no cost to Red Bank Residents

• CARTA Care-a-van services are now available to residents 65+ or temporarily or permanently disabled

• Online permit applications now available 24/7 through the city’s website

• Created a Public Art Citizen’s Advisory Board responsible for the new utility box art installations at four locations on Dayton Boulevard

 

Public Works Department

• Upgraded technology including online permit applications and service requests

• Restructured the existing Public Works Supervisor position into a new Facilities Management position tasked with maintaining and upgrading city facilities including but not limited to:

  • AEDs installed in all public city facilities

  • First public electric vehicle chargers installed at the Red Bank police station

  • ADA upgrades including automatic door openers

  • Energy efficiency upgrades including LED lighting

  • Multiple roof replacements

  • HVAC maintenance and replacements

• Hired Engineering Technician to serve both Streets and Stormwater departments:

• Streets Department

  • Completed the city’s first Pavement Condition Index (PCI), Sidewalk Condition Index and inventory, and sign inventory.

  • ADA, signalized intersection, and crosswalk upgrades

  • Created a Transportation Safety Committee

• Stormwater Department

  • $1.6M in TDEC stormwater grant funds secured and used to fund: 

    • the first mapping of our stormwater infrastructure network with a management plan to follow - this mapping has already generated over 150 work orders for maintenance issues that may have otherwise gone undiscovered

    • the purchase of a new jetter truck that keeps our stormwater drains cleared of debris - currently in use resolving the above work orders

    • The renovation of the municipal stormwater retention ponds at White Oak Park

  • Purchase of a new street sweeper preventing waste from clogging our stormwater infrastructure and polluting Stringer’s Branch

• Solid Waste Department

  • Online service requests for brush & solid waste pickup are now available online

  • Established a solid waste supervisor position

  • Expanded hours of Red Bank recycling center from 3 to 5 days a week

  • New used oil, antifreeze, tire, and paint collection service

• Created Parks and Recreation Department

  • Hired first Parks and Recreation employee - also our first certified playground inspector

  • Community events expanded from the annual Christmas Festival & Jubilee to include regular Food Truck Friday, Mini Farmer’s Market, Community Movie Nights, and citywide cleanup events.

  • Created a Parks and Recreation Citizen’s Advisory Board

  • Adopted first Parks and Recreation Master Plan

  • Began city management of the Red Bank Active Older Adults program, featuring art, Tai Chi, music classes, and more.

  • Completed the White Oak Stringer’s Ridge Connector Trail - new crosswalk and sidewalk connection now under construction on Midvale Ave.

  • New ADA-accessible playground at White Oak Park.

  • Created a Cemetery Citizen’s Advisory Board overseeing the Restoration and management of the Red Bank Cemetery.

 

Fire Department

• Creation of a new Fire Training Captian position.

• Purchase of new training equipment.

• Providing second set of turnout gear for improved safety and response times of our firefighters.

• New extractor installed for washing carcinogens out of firefighter’s gear.

 

Police Department

• First-ever IT manager hired (formerly Chief of Police also tasked with all IT responsibilities).

• New detective position focused on domestic violence created through grant funds.

• Department fully staffed thanks to competitive pay adjustments.

• Body cameras issued to all officers.

• New generator for the police station to ensure continued operations in emergencies

 

Administration and Finance

• Commission meetings live-streamed and recorded with quality video & audio.

• Proactive messaging through city website, email newsletter, and active social media accounts made possible through a new public relations/assistant city recorder position

• City recorder became the city’s first-ever certified HR professional (also thanks the the same above assistant city recorder position).

• Earning the Tennessee State Comptroller Certificate of Budget Excellence for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 thanks to a balanced and timely budget.

 

FAQ’s about Red Bank’s Property Taxes:

 

Q: What is the City of Red Bank’s property tax rate?

 

A: $1.67 per $100 of assessed value (this is determined by the Hamilton County Property Assessor and is not necessarily reflective of sales price)

• You can find YOUR assessed value on the Hamilton County Property Assessor’s website here

• Keep in mind that the HAMILTON COUNTY portion of your taxes is $2.27 per $100 of assessed value, or about ⅔ of your total tax bill.

 

Q: Is my property tax bill going to double this year?

 

A: No. There was no tax increase on the most recently approved Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget. Your property tax bill that was just recently issued for 2024 will be the same amount as the bill you paid last year.

 

Q: How much have my taxes increased?

 

A: The total tax rate increase from 2020-2024 has increased about 20%. The amount your tax bill increased in that same time will vary depending on the assessed value of your home both before and after the last 2021 Hamilton County Property Reassessment. 

 

For a home with the median assessed value in Red Bank, the last tax increase in 2023 averaged about $250 more a year (if you own your property outright and pay annually), or about $20 more a month if your property tax is amortized on your mortgage.

• You can find YOUR current and past property tax bill amounts on the Hamilton County Trustee’s website here.

 

Q: Is Red Bank’s property tax rate high?

 

A: Red Bank now has a similar tax rate as most other cities its size in Hamilton County. 25% lower than surrounding Chattanooga, almost the same as Signal Mountain and only slightly higher than Collegedale and East Ridge, who both have significantly more industry and retail sales tax revenues than Red Bank, respectively.

 

Sources: