Tonight's meeting at East Hamilton High School by School Superintendent Rick Smith and Donna Horn was, to be polite, perplexing at best. Superintendent Smith went through an illustrated overhead presentation, each point used to justify his "pitch" for a property tax increase.
He said as he progressed that he knew some of us "over there" (as he looked in our direction at the left side of the auditorium) want to discuss the tax issue tonight, but that he was going to avoid that issue and concentrate on making his case through a presentation of facts and where the budget money is now allocated. It struck me as strange, that his last overhead illustration however was on the proposed property tax increase after all.
He began by showing figures of what he said would be the "small increase" required of two property taxpayers. His illustration showed the cost to both a $150,000 and a $200,000 home owner. That sure looked like he was discussing the tax issue to me (and only at the end). Sort of like a salesman that talks about the benefits of his product, but holds off telling you the price until the end.
What struck me also as somewhat too coincidental was that he said, "I can take one more question." And guess what, there just "happened" to be a gentleman, in the front row no less, who was recognized,and began singing his praises for, and supporting the proposed property tax increase. It seemed to be filled with biased and off the wall assumptions. For instance: if we approve the property tax increase, then we would see our home values rise because people would flock to Chattanooga to take advantage of new class offerings in school programs, improvements, and teacher pay. All made available through this small tax increase. I looked around, and noticed several people squinting as tho to say, what did he just say?
Don't get me wrong, Rick Smith is probably a good guy, but his focus seems to be about money being the answer before he exhausts other obvious avenues first. A suggestion made by some county commissioners as well.
With a reported $39 million surplus in the "rainy day fund" I asked Mrs. Horn after the meeting (said she favors a tax increase of some kind), what was the required amount for the rainy day fund, and then was it in surplus. She admitted that she didn't know the answer to either question. She then asked me, "Do you know how money it takes each year to run a school?" I replied, perhaps not, but since they received more than a reported $5 million increase last year, (it can never be decreased each year), and I assume that it took more than one year to accumulate a $39 million surplus, perhaps they could use some of the surplus for their proposed salary and program increases before coming back to the property taxpayers.
Better yet, perhaps they could look at the top heavy administrative salaries ("Hamilton County Top Administrative salaries 2012" in the Chattanoogan) and perhaps there find a future source for teacher pay increases. That might also include freezing Superintendent Rick Smith's salary of $190,000 per year for a while, (a reported $23,000 increase after only two years on the job).
I am not against teachers, many of them are not getting this money, but it always seems when folks in government are paid to do a job, they always feel that more money is the only answer. Talk to some of our county commissioners, they have some great ideas, and they don't all look to more money as the answer.
Bill Reesor
Ooltewah
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Amen and amen.
Well stated, Mr. Reesor. Proposing, publicizing and justifying the 40 cent tax increase is the standard operating procedure by HCDE. Ask for an increase and make it a number that is shocking and unacceptable – push that number, get a lot of people in an uproar – then the commissioners will handshake an approval for a lesser amount, pat themselves on the back for showing taxpayer empathy, call it a good fiscal move and move on to giving unjustified PILOTS.
PILOTS supposedly increase the tax base by increased jobs which is parlayed into more property owners. Hamilton County has given away enough money in PILOTS to cover justifiable education expenditures. Justifiable expenditures is not defined as pet projects, outside consultants, etc. Why is it the HCDE cannot operate like we citizens must operate? We can’t go to our employers, retirement systems, Social Security Administration, etc. and ask for money to meet our expenses or do things “we’d like to do” – we have to cut expenses or reduce our standard of living so that we can pay the increases.
I’ve heard some say “why it is only a small tax increase – all you have to do is give up one Slurpy a week.” Yet, this is a proposed tax increase in addition to higher grocery cost, higher gasoline prices, higher electric bills, etc. Need I say more?
Please commissioners – we elected you to use rational common sense. You are our representatives charged with fiduciary responsibility – a fiduciary prudently takes care of money for another person, ie. the citizens of Hamilton County.
I have contacted my County Commissioner Randy Fairbanks – I suggest everyone do the same and stress that we want them to look at the big picture not just the cost of a Slurpy.
Tom Wheatley
Soddy Daisy
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Put the property tax increase on a referendum.
Chuck Davis
Lookout Mountain, Tn.