Graham, Boyd Say City Should Stop Charging Stormwater Fee To County Schools

  • Wednesday, February 1, 2017

County Commissioners Joe Graham and Tim Boyd said Wednesday that the city should stop charging the county schools "half a million dollars a year" in stormwater fees.

Commissioner Graham said that charge "should be negotiated out" in connection with the county agreeing not to charge the city of Chattanooga and other municipalities for property reappraisals.

The commission acted Wednesday to waive the  shared cost for the 2017 real property reappraisals.

Municipal officials had gotten up in arms about the surprise charge with some saying they would have to raise taxes to cover it.

The city of Chattanooga started charging the schools a stormwater fee at the time the city began repaying a large amount of liquor tax it was found had not been remitted to the schools.

Commissioner Graham said of Mayor Andy Berke that "he is the only mayor in history to charge our schools the fee."

Commissioner Boyd called the fee "totally out of line."

He said the money should be used instead "for teacher salaries or supplies."

Also, he said it could help eliminate fees charged to parents by the schools.

Breaking News
Latest Hamilton County Arrest Report
  • 3/28/2024

Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report: ADERHOLT, FELICIA DAWN 1110 ST CLAIR ST DUNLAP, 37327 Age at Arrest: 37 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous ... more

Signal Mountain Must Determine How To Use Remainder Of ARPA Funds
  • 3/27/2024

The town of Signal Mountain has $358,637 remaining from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds it received and there must be a plan in place by the end of the year for how the money will be ... more

2 Men Charged In Dalton For January Drive-By Shooting
  • 3/27/2024

The Dalton Police Department has charged two men for their roles in a Jan. 28th drive-by shooting near downtown Dalton. Joshua Lee Edwards, 36, of Dalton was charged with two counts of aggravated ... more