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Commission approves two-cent tax increase for schools




Beck

Beck

The Cheatham County 2018-19 budget took another step toward completion on Monday, July 16 when commissioners approved tacking on two additional cents to the property tax increase to provide more money for schools.

The additional 2 cents for the schools, which takes the overall tax increase up to 16.96 cents, will generate approximately $160,000, well short of the additional $3 million the school board was seeking. Had the commission agreed to fully fund the school board’s request it would have meant a property tax increase of around 37 cents just for the schools.

One week prior, at a special-called meeting on July 9, the commission voted in favor of a 14.96 cent property tax increase. Six cents will fund more School Resource Officers (SROs) while the remaining 8.96 cents will go to the county’s general fund, which may include providing resources to help with overcrowding at the jail.

 “While we appreciate the two additional property tax pennies, it won’t close the gap for what we need,” said Cheatham County Schools director Cathy Beck, who added that she appreciated the commission funding seven new SROs that will allow the district to have an officer in every school.

“We believe that our schools and our community are worth the investment,” Beck added. “We have confidence in our five-year plan. It is still my hope that we can continue to make strides towards closing our funding gap, both this year and in subsequent years.”

Commissioners voted down proposals to give the schools an additional four cents and then three cents. The two-cent increase finally passed by a 7-5 margin.

The school board held a special-called meeting of their own two days later and trimmed their funding request to an additional $2.6 million, meaning there is still a large gap between what the school board wants and what the commission has approved up to this point.

Cheatham County Mayor Kerry McCarver has set a special-called meeting of the commission for August 13 to consider the school board’s request.

McCarver said that if a budget is not approved by both the school board and commission by the end of August, the schools will revert to the past fiscal year’s budget.

McCarver also said that the budget delay will keep the sheriff’s department from hiring the additional SROs that have been approved by the commission.

After the commission’s vote in the July 16 meeting, Beck made an appeal to the public for support.

“Individuals who are saying they would support a tax increase can donate money to the schools,” Beck said. “Parents who support giving the schools more money can pay the class fees and donate supplies to the classrooms. We, as a community, should try and shop locally as much as we can. This will increase our sales tax revenue, which in turn could make a difference in funding going forward.”

Beck also encouraged anyone who would like to help to call the principal of their neighborhood school and ask about what is needed.

“We welcome donations and volunteers,” she said.

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