What does the Hamilton County Commission do?

The 11 members of the Hamilton County Commission get the final say on how the county's nearly billion dollar budget is spent.

By William Newlin

The Hamilton County Schools budget makes up more than 60% of county-wide spending, and it’s approved by the 11 men currently sitting on the Hamilton County Commission.

With around $1 billion in their hands, commissioners shape what happens in the county by directing tax dollars to departments like education, health, and wastewater, the county jail, and more. 

One commission seat — District 3 — is on the ballot in this year’s elections. Here’s a refresher on how the commission works and how to get involved. 

Meetings

Every other Wednesday, the commissioners hold their regular meeting at 9:30 a.m. at the Hamilton County Courthouse on Georgia Avenue. They meet in room 402, which attendees can access after a metal detector screening and a brief elevator ride.

Unlike city governments, the County Commission doesn’t pass laws. Instead, commissioners vote on resolutions that often involve distributing funds, approving contracts, or hiring employees. They also set the rate for the county-wide property tax, a key source of school funding.

County Mayor Weston Wamp’s office and the City Attorney draft the resolutions appearing before the commission, and commissioners can tweak them in committee discussion or during meeting debates.

You can see the agenda from the Jan. 23 commission meeting here and see meeting archives here.

Getting involved

Public comment is available to any Hamilton County resident at the end of commission meetings. You can also find your district and email your representative, although it’s not a bad idea to raise concerns to any and all commissioners. 

That goes for city-dwellers, too. For example, County Commission and Chattanooga City Council districts overlap, meaning multiple representatives make decisions impacting your neighborhood. 

Petitioning more than one official and following up on the issues you care about can make your comments about commission decisions more impactful.

What else to know

District 3 representative Ken Smith is the only commissioner up for reelection this year. He is running unopposed in the primary election on March 5. However, several other positions will have contested primaries, including six Hamilton County School Board seats and a Circuit Court Judgeship.

For more information about registering to vote, polling places, and candidates, visit the Hamilton County Election Commission. You can access a sample primary ballot for Hamilton County here.