Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke Discusses Budget

He touched on several different issues that face the city.

Mayor Berke adds, "We said if you have a great idea, but it isn’t in these priority areas, it’s not going to get funded. It may be great, but this is where our priorities are. And if you have an idea that’s not in these priority areas, but we can’t see that it’s going to be effective, then we’re not going to fund it."

Mayor Berke also spoke on his anti-violence campaign, selling city-owned blighted properties, and increasing property values.

Mayor Berke also discussed budgeting.

He says he went to a zero – based budgeting plan or what he calls budgeting for outcomes.

This year Mayor Berke says he put money into essentially four different areas; safer streets, smarter students, stronger neighborhoods and a growing economy, and sounder government.