KINCANNON BUDGET: FUNDING COMMITTED TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE, PROMOTE RESILIENCY
KNOXVILLE, TN (April 30, 2021) – Mayor Indya Kincannon’s proposed budget reflects feedback from the Mayor’s Climate Council on the importance of transportation electrification.
Mayor Kincannon’s proposed budget will be presented for first reading at City Council on Tuesday, May 4. Legislative budget hearings are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, May 13-14, with a public hearing at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 14. A second Council vote on the proposed budget is scheduled for Tuesday, May 18.
Highlights include:
- $4 million to stormwater infrastructure, including $550,000 in new capital to improve drainage and proactively address water quality.
- $15.3 million in direct City support for Knoxville Area Transit (KAT), including $1.2 million for matching grants as KAT continues to convert its fleet to all-electric buses. The first 12 will arrive in Knoxville by fall 2021
- $150,000 would fund additional public electric vehicle charging stations and install charging banks at the City-County Building and at the Public Works Service Center. There are now 21 public charging ports with plans to reach 45 by year end with most of the new ports going into downtown parking garages and City parks.
- $721,000 is allocated to protect and expand Knoxville’s urban forest to promote resilience and a healthy environment.
- The Knoxville Convention Center’s enrollment into the KUB/TVA Green Switch Match program, which will provide 100 percent renewable electricity to the facility.
Knoxville is now the top city in the Southeast for investing in solar power, thanks to KUB’s investment in 502 MW of solar through TVA’s Green Invest program.
The City is partnering with KUB to support a community solar project at the City’s Public Works Service Center, 3131 Morris Ave., just north of Interstate 40.
For more details on the proposed budget, visit knoxvilletn.gov/budget