The County Commission voted 5-4 on Thursday morning for a 26-cent property tax increase.

Voting in favor were Curtis Adams, Richard Casavant, Greg Beck, Warren Mackey and John Brooks.

Opposed were Larry Henry, Fred Skillern, Bill Hullander and Jim Coppinger.

County School Board member Rhonda Thurman, who led an anti-tax fight, said immediately after the vote, "Our tax money was used to bribe commissioners for votes. The whole thing stinks."

She said her group plans to seek state legislation allowing citizens to recall county officials.

Ms. Thurman also said the group plans to put up billboards entitled "Back Room Political Dealmakers" with pictures of those involved in the tax increase.

She said, "One commissioner sold out for a playground, and another to get more blacks hired. Two more sold out for schools."

County Mayor Claude Ramsey said four court clerks - Gwen Tidwell, Paula Thompson, Lee Akers and Ron Swafford - will not get $10,000 raises as planned. He said the pay of elected officials will be capped at 3.9 percent.

Also, those in county government making over $90,000 will have their pay increased capped at 3.9 percent. Some had been set to get much larger increases under the county pay plan that includes comparing pay here with that elsewhere as well as employee evaluations.

Louis Wright, county finance director, said the amount of the reduced raises was about $40,000.

Officials said on a $150,000 home, the added property tax would be $97.50 per year.

Commissioner Mackey issued this statement after the vote:

"I voted for what I thought was best for Hamilton County, especially for those people who live in the 4th District. To me the 26 cent increase represented a compromise between those who could support an increase and those of moderate and fixed incomes.

"About a month ago Gov. Bredesen announced that he would change the funding formula for schools in Tennessee and that would result in Chattanooga receiving millions in new dollars to support education. Chattanoogans gleefully expected that our immediate needs had been met and that it would be a while before any new taxes would be needed.

"Shortly thereafter County Mayor Ramsey submitted his budget and most of us were surprised that it contained a tax increase. He outlined the needs and where the money would go—SRO officers, basic pay increases for county workers, new schools, etc. Among the results of low pay all too often many of our talented teachers are attracted to North Georgia. Also, Hamilton County would invest in the training of sheriff officers but then watch them take their training to the TBI, FBI or some other agency.

"County Mayor Ramsey also provided a rationale for his proposed increased. Since the previous BEP formula had robbed our community of much needed capital the county tended to drain money away from other sectors of its government in order to make ends meet.

"I traveled the district (and county) from one end to the other in an effort to read the pulse of the community, especially the 4th District. I talked with representatives from different segments of the community ranging from the business people to the elderly on fixed and limited incomes (like my mother). After doing due diligence I came to believe that the 4th District would have me support County Mayor Ramsey’s budget proposal.

"Please realize that I also took those who opposed the tax increase quite seriously and that I did hear their voices. I was guided by the principle of trying to do the most good for the most people. Because the 4th District is probably the most diverse as it relates to race, class, economics, etc., it is difficult to come to a single consensus. With prices for basic commodities like gas, medicine, and food going up I recognized that the additional $97 tax that a person with a $150,000 home will pay could be a strain. It also registered with me that some people were disgusted with the huge raises that they believed that the higher salaried employees would receive. That issue has been addressed by the mayor! And too there are a substantial number of people who are disgruntled with so many county cars being taken home by employees. I pledge to them that I will continue to be vigilant and try to reduce the total number of cars owned by the county.

"One segment of District 4 has continued to question the lack of inclusion and want me to confront it by cutting off their money. Progress has been made on that front for Sheriff Billy Long has pledged to me that he would work earnestly to have his department better reflect the demographics of the community.

"What are my thoughts for the near future as it relates to voting for any tax increase in the next two or three years? It would be out of the question! Warren Mackey will not support any tax increase during that period."