Chattanooga, TN – Early voting has begun in Chattanooga, and the Chattanooga Fire Department (CFD) is urging residents to support an amendment that would remove the city’s residency requirement for public employees. Signs advocating for the amendment have been placed outside all Chattanooga fire stations, as well as at Fire Administration and the Fire & Police Training Center.
Currently, Chattanooga’s City Charter mandates that all city employees must reside in Tennessee. This means that while the Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments can hire someone living hours away in Memphis, they cannot employ a well-qualified candidate from just across the state line in Rossville, Georgia.
CFD and the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) are facing staffing shortages, as fewer young people are choosing careers in public service. Officials say the residency requirement has made it difficult to recruit and retain qualified personnel.
The proposed amendment, already approved by the state legislature and the Chattanooga City Council, now requires voter approval. If passed, the measure would allow the city to hire first responders and other employees from neighboring states, improving recruitment efforts.
Election Day is March 4, with early voting running from February 12 through February 27.