Sales tax referendum floated as response to school budget shortfall
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Hamilton County Commission heard an earful from concerned parents concerning this year’s school budget on Wednesday morning.
This is as Hamilton County Schools are looking to make millions of dollars of cuts due to lower than expected local revenue.
This followed the cancellation of a joint meeting on Monday between the Commission and School Board and a listening session by the Hamilton County School Board on Tuesday evening.
This led to some frustrations from citizens who feel that the two bodies aren’t working well together.
Resident Blake Gray said, “It’s like going back and forth between your parents if they’re divorced…I’m just wishing there was some way y’all can revisit this entire process like Jeanette said because it is, like “Mom, Dad can you please talk to each other?”.”
Other voiced concerns over various potential cuts to the school budget to the Commission.
Jill Weitz, whose two children go to a magnet school, says she’s concerned about transportation cuts.
She said, “This is probably some of our children that are most in need, to give them an opportunity to go to a school that is outside of their zoned school, for a lot of kids, you’re taking away their opportunity to go to that school.”
Two commissioners, David Sharpe and Joe Graham, floated the idea of creating a referendum to raise sales tax by a quarter of a percent to tackle the tightening school budget.
Commissioner Sharpe said, “They have more levers that they are pulling then what we are pulling in Hamilton County… We gotta do better in my humble opinion, and I’m happy to work with anybody on it. But I’ve started something already, and if you want to join me, we’ll do it together.”
School board member Jill Black says this is the discussion that has been needed between the Commission and School Board.
She said, “I really like the fact that we’re talking about revenue, because that is what everything comes down to. Let’s prioritize our kids and our schools.”
While a referendum resolution hasn’t been formally introduced, some say they’d like to see it be presented.
Weitz said, “I would be in full support, and I really appreciate that it is a bipartisan resolution that they are discussing. I think a referendum, I think .25% sales tax, when it comes down to it is ultimately minimal for the amount of things that we purchase.”
The Hamilton County School Board still plans to vote on their finalized school budget next Thursday, May 8.
