Speakers line up to address County Commission on tax hike
The County Commission voted 8-1 on Wednesday morning to raise property taxes 26.76 cents above the certified tax rate (after the recent reappraisal).
Commissioner Tim Boyd cast the only no vote, saying there had been a sudden shift from a no-tax-increase budget without adequate public notice and without a plan for spending the $33.5 million in new income.
Voting in favor were Greg Martin, Sabrena Smedley, Chester Bankston, Warren Mackey, Randy Fairbanks, Jim Fields, Joe Graham and Greg Beck.
The new certified tax rate was at $2.4976 per $100 of assessed valuation. The vote by the commission raises the millage rate back to $2.7652 per $100 of assessed valuation.
County Mayor Jim Coppinger said the last county tax increase was in 2007, and he said the last time the schools got money from a tax hike was 2005.
He said the county had been living off 2.5 percent in annual tax collection growth, but he said, "Our expenses are far exceeding that."
The county mayor said the increase would provide $100 million to the schools for capital projects and build a $45 million sewage treatment plant at Harrison.
County Mayor Coppinger said $1 million will be set aside to go to the 79 schools for purchase of supplies.
He said, "We are treading water. We need to swim forward."
Saying the county is at a crossroads, he said a number of opportunities came forward after it was agreed earlier not to raise taxes.
Commissioner Boyd said that "three business days of notice on a holiday weekend is fiscally irresponsible. It's not enough time to consider a tax increase of this magnitude." He said steps had not been taken to eliminate ineffective programs. He said 5-7 percent of county spending could have been cut.
He also said that an agency's "lavish spending" had been condoned - apparently referring to the Chattanooga Visitors Bureau.
County Mayor Coppinger retorted that, "This is not the time for political rhetoric."
He said, "You can't get this kind of revenue by cutting out the Read 2020 program" - a frequent target of Commissioner Boyd.
At a time for public comment at 8:30 a.m., some were in favor and some opposed.
Those speaking for included Bill Kilbride of the Chamber of Commerce, Terry Greene of the Home Builders and former mayor Jon Kinsey.
Mark West, local Tea Party leader, said Mr. Kinsey and the Chamber had often pushed for tax forgiveness and now were asking a tax rise that he said would fall on the shoulders of others. He said there had been some $400 million of tax forgiveness to large firms.
Several speakers said there were dire needs at the schools that need to be dealt with.