Ellen Gerst

3 days ago | timesfreepress.com | Ellen Gerst

The cost of annual passes for Chattanooga's bikeshare is about to nearly double. Beginning June 23, passes will increase from $50 a year to $90, according to Bike Chattanooga. It's the first rate increase since the rideshare system first came to the city in 2012. The annual passes allow riders to go on unlimited rides up to 60 minutes each. "We understand that no one loves to hear about price changes," an email alerting riders to the change said.

3 days ago | timesfreepress.com | Ellen Gerst

How to appeal your Hamilton County property value 2 minutes ago by Ellen Gerst Staff photo by Abby White / Hamilton County Assessor Marty Haynes speaks in front of the Hamilton County Courthouse on June 3, 2025, to discuss the new certified property tax rate following reappraisals. Hamilton County homeowners have until 4 p.m. Friday to submit a formal appeal of their reappraised property value.

4 days ago | timesfreepress.com | Ellen Gerst

Erin Hafkenschiel wants to prove that Chattanooga can learn something from Nashville. Hafkenschiel, executive director of statewide think tank Think Tennessee, previously worked on transit projects at Vanderbilt University and for two Nashville mayors. Her time in the Mayor's Office included work on "Let's Move Nashville," a 2018 referendum that would have funded a mass transit system for the city.

5 days ago | timesfreepress.com | Ellen Gerst

Because of historic high property values, Hamilton County's property tax rate will decrease to a historic low. County properties will be taxed at a rate of $1.5157 per $100 of assessed value, which is a quarter of a property's appraisal value, officials announced Tuesday. That's the lowest rate in the county since 1941, county Mayor Weston Wamp said at a press conference. It's around a 70-cent decrease from the previous rate of $2.23.

5 days ago | timesfreepress.com | Ellen Gerst

Officials seek $1.5 million for Westside hub to help replace lost federal dollars 3 minutes ago by Ellen Gerst Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Officials and residents break ground on the renovation of the James A. Henry Hub in front of a wall of cameras and phones in July 2024. With expected federal money now gone, officials are seeking local dollars to help complete the project's first phase.