A majority of County Commission members say they do not plan to raise property taxes this year, despite a plea from the county schools for more money.
Commissioner Sabrena Smedley said when her mother heard that news she stayed up late to bake a chocolate cake for the commissioners.
County Mayor Jim Coppinger said he will present the full budget to the commission on June 6 at a workshop, then will ask the commission to consider passing it on first reading on June 7.
The last time the county raised taxes was 2007.
At a budget hearing on Tuesday, Commissioners Greg Beck and Joe Graham said they will go along with the recommendation of County Mayor Coppinger on whether or not to have a tax increase sought by the schools.
County Mayor Coppinger has not yet given a recommendation.
The schools are seeking $24.2 million in new funding.
Dr. Kirk Kelly, interim superintendent, told County Commission members the money would be used to boost workforce readiness and literacy and bolster five low-performing schools and 11 others that are on the cusp of being classified as low-performing.
Commissioner Tim Boyd said he wants to support the school request, but he said, "I don't see any details other than we're just throwing money at it."
He said, "We are hearing year after year that the schools need millions of dollars."
Commissioner Boyd also said the schools should discard programs that are not working and use that money for new efforts.
Dr. Kelly said the schools now have a plan to boost student literacy and raise the ACT scores.
He said the central office has been reorganized so that any one administrator is not over-burdened. He said 15 people had been reporting to Asst. Supt. Robert Sharpe. He said in the new plan any one administrator will have a maximum of five people reporting to them.
He noted that Jill Levine, former Normal School Principal, has joined the central office as chief academic officer.
Dr. Kelly said Steve Holmes and Brenda Benford are retiring.
Also, Ann Bates, longtime assistant to the school board and superintendent, is retiring.
He said the posts of assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and assistant superintendent for operations have been posted and should be filled soon.
Dr. Kelly said he will continue to discuss with the school board the need to hire a public relations and communications officer.
County Mayor Coppinger said he believes the county schools do not do a good job of "getting out their good news." He said, instead, there is a focus on problems at the schools.
Commissioner Graham urged the county schools to use some of the fund balance for needs such as ridding schools of rodents and sewer gases. He estimated the county school fund balance at $59 million and said only about $12 million is required.
Dr. Kelly said the actual amount is closer to $37 million. He said the amount available would only finance the schools for about five weeks. He said there are times during the year when revenue collections are slow.
Commissioner Smedley said a large tax increase was asked last year and the focus then was foreign language and arts.
Former Supt. Rick Smith last year held a series of meetings trying to drum up support for more money for the schools, but a tax increase was not granted.
Dr. Kelly said the central office is now "listening to the community" on needs. He said the greatest of those is to help children learn to read at a young age. He said higher-level programs will fail if many children cannot adequately read.