County commission approves spending $195 million

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Hamilton County Commission has approved spending $195-million for school projects, the county jail and to pay off bond.

That action comes after Mayor Jim Coppinger set the stage for leveraging extra tax funds the county has from a change in the millage rate.

The funds for county schools will be used for new construction and repair of existing facilities.

“Basically $125-million is going to build schools, and renovate some schools. Then, we have $55-million and what we’re going to do there is we’re going to pay down our line of credit which is a variable interest loan, reissue those, $55 million as fixed rate interest,” said District 8 Commissioner Tim Boyd.

The funds will also be used to add beds to Silverdale Corrections, which is now being managed as part of the county jail.