posted August 17, 2005
Members of the County Commission heard pros and cons on a tax increase at a public hearing on Wednesday morning.
Annie Hall of Signal Mountain said thousands of county residents without children in the public schools support more funding for education.
Joe Dumas, also a Signal resident, said more money is not the answer. He said, "What we need to do is replace some school board members and a superintendent."
The commission will meet Monday at 9:30 a.m. at the County Courthouse to set the tax rate.
The commission last year voted 5-4 against a 55-cent property tax boost recommended by County Mayor Claude Ramsey. But the swing vote, Commissioner Larry Henry, has indicated he may support a tax increase this year.
The last county property tax increase was in 1999.
Steve Holmes, president of the Hamilton County Principals Association, said test scores are up at the county schools, but he said teacher morale is down due to inadequate pay. He asked for funding to reinstate coaching supplements, guidance counselors and other programs.
Lamar Lasley told the commission that most school personnel "make $40,000 to $100,000, live in beautiful homes and drive model cars. They are doing very well." He told of one elderly woman living off $435 a month.
He said, "There are too many parasites feeding off the American people. I don't believe it's for the children. I think it's to get more and more so they can spend more and more."
Harriet Harris, a retired teacher, said teachers are under tremendous pressure due to No Child Left Behind and other issues. She said many experienced teachers are leaving the system for higher pay.
Tom Caldwell of Signal Mountain said the county schools have been doing an excellent job despite a shortage of funds. He said more money is needed to retain teachers and to help boost economic development.
A man who moved here from Oak Ridge said he and his wife "can't understand why the County Commission and the school board can't work together and why $18 million in high priority needs is not in the budget."
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