Mayor's 2021 State of the City Address

The City’s tax rate is 27 cents lower than it was 5 years ago, and nearly the lowest it’s been in more than 30 years (View Chart A).

The City’s current debt obligation is over 30% lower than it was 20 years ago (View Chart B).

In 2020, the City issued building permits for projects with a total value of $697M.

The number of building permits issued for projects in the City valued at over $1M has grown over 400% in a decade (View Chart C).

View City Financial Facts at a Glance: Tax Rates, Debt and Building Permits - Click Here

People deserve to be and feel safe in Knoxville. Public safety is a core, basic function of government, and this budget invests in our Police and Fire Departments and supports partnerships that address urgent public safety needs.

This year, the City of Knoxville will:

• Develop evidence-based, community-informed strategies to reduce homicides and save lives
• Launch CrimeStoppers to solve crimes, offering rewards for anonymous tips
• Expand the KPD Co-Response Team pairing behavioral-health specialists with crisis-trained officers
• Partner with Fulton High School to promote public safety career pathways
• Continue to innovate and improve Knoxville’s ability to respond to emergencies and address chronic stresses like mental health, addiction and poverty
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• $1.9M for core Public Safety partners: Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center, Metro Drug Coalition, Family Justice Center, Animal Welfare
• $1M for violence interruption & prevention
• $500K for health & mental health partners
• $500K+ for partners providing safe places and enrichment programming for youth

Reimagining Public Safety with the KPD Co-Response Team: By pairing behavioral-health specialists with KPD officers, the co-response team is able to assess individuals’ behavioral-health needs in real time and help connect those individuals with immediate access to services.

The City strives to ensure Knoxville is a great place to live – no matter your neighborhood – no matter your income. This budget supports affordable housing and projects and partners that enhance the quality of life across our community.

This year, the City of Knoxville will:

• Launch the Knoxville Affordable Housing Fund, a 10-year, $50M commitment to expand access to housing in Knoxville
• Support KCDC’s Western Heights revitalization project
• Continue progress on East Knoxville and Northwest Knoxville greenway projects
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• $8M+ for Affordable Housing, including $1.5M for Permanent Supportive Housing
• $1M+ to prevent and address homelessness with Housing First strategies
• $4M+ for citywide park improvements
• $2M for Burlington District enhancements
• $750K+ to support arts, culture, and historic preservation

Leveraging insight from the Mayor’s Climate Council, this budget makes progress toward the City’s commitment to fight climate change and protect Knoxville’s natural resources.

This year, the City of Knoxville will:

• Expand public electric vehicle charging infrastructure
• Adopt sustainable fleet policy to electrify City vehicles
• Partner with KUB on a Community Solar Project at the Public Works Service Center
• Initiate KAT Comprehensive Operational Analysis & Bus Stop Improvement Plan
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• $2.5M+ for traffic calming, bicyclist, pedestrian, and Complete Street projects
• $15.3M for Knoxville Area Transit
• $4.7M+ for stormwater infrastructure and urban forestry

Through TVA/KUB Green Invest, Knoxville is now the #1 city in the Southeast for investing in solar power!

A healthy economy supports a healthy community, and vice versa. This budget supports Knoxville as a great place to work, to invest, to visit, start a business, and to raise a family.

This year, the City of Knoxville will:

• Initiate Economic Disparity Study to support diversity businesses
• Launch Developers Roundtable to cut through red tape and support community investment
• Support KUB municipal broadband and high-quality Internet access for all
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• $900K to support local partners that help families thrive by supporting community schools, literacy, and financial stability
• $1M+ to support local economic partners:
- Knoxville Chamber Path to Prosperity
- 100 Knoxville Project to grow Black-owned businesses
- The Knoxville Entrepreneur Center
- The Maker City Initiative

The purpose of the City of Knoxville is to provide a stable foundation for safety, health, and the common good. Fulfilling that purpose starts with good governance and a demonstrated commitment to act with integrity, transparency, and fiscal responsibility as we provide high-quality and effective services.

This budget reflects a commitment to:

• Stable services: Despite the pandemic, City services remain reliable
• Fiscal responsibility: The budget is balanced, with conservative revenue estimates
• City employees: The budget funds standard salary increases, holds health care costs constant, and funds a comprehensive salary study
• Equity: $100,000 to support African American Equity Restoration Task Force facilitation
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There is no tax increase proposed.