Commissioner clarifies stance on sales tax referendum proposal

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Last week in response to criticism over the Hamilton County School budget’s $16 million dollar shortfall, two commissioners floated the idea of a referendum to raise the county’s sales tax.
Wednesday, Commissioner David Sharpe commented on the feedback he’s received in the past week on that proposal.

That, if county voters passed it, would raise taxes by a quarter of a percent.

Sharpe says that despite some criticism over the burden this would place on consumers, he argues that this will eventually be a necessary step that would generate over $30 million dollars in revenue.

“I just want to be clear that in no shape, form, or fashion, was I suggesting that we have a referendum for a sales tax to satisfy budgetary needs, that was not the point. It seems like a lot of people have grabbed that and ran with it and please do not misrepresent my words on that. Do we need new revenue? Yes,” said Sharpe.

There is no resolution on a referendum that has been presented.

The Hamilton County School Board will vote on a final budget Thursday night at their meeting.