DAYTON, Tenn. — Rhea County school officials faced with rising diesel and electricity costs could have at least three options, state Rep. Jim Cobb said Wednesday.
The Spring City Republican said state Department of Education officials suggested to him that county schools could shift money around within their budget to help pay for transportation.
“A nickel here, a dime there, next thing you know, you have some money,” Rep. Cobb said.
He said other options include looking at the county’s budget or getting an amendment through the General Assembly granting state funds to help pay for bus fuel.
“The county has some responsibility to help pay if they have some money available,” Rep Cobb said. “Which I don’t know if they do.”
County officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Rep. Cobb, Rhea County commissioners and school board members will hold a joint meeting tonight to discuss rising costs.
Diesel has risen more than $1 per gallon over the last month, records show. At the same time, school officials said they may face a 12 percent increase in electricity bills from Dayton and a 7 percent increase from Volunteer Energy Cooperative in Spring City.
Department of Education spokeswoman Rachel Woods said the only way the state could help is to allow some money to be transferred from noninstructional funds to transportation.
“There are no state dollars to request,” she said.
School board Chairman Bill Davault said he would like to hear about the ways to transfer money, but isn’t sure if it’s possible.
“Everybody says tighten your belt,” he said. “There’s no more tightening. We’re getting strangled.”
IF YOU GO
Rhea County commissioners and school board members will meet at 7 p.m. today in the conference room of the Phil Swafford Building in Dayton, Tenn.
Cliff has worked for the Times Free Press for five years and covers Chattanooga city government. He previously covered Rhea County, as well as transportation and growth and development in Southeast Tennessee. A native of Maryville, Tenn., Cliff graduated in 2003 from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on journalism. Before coming to Chattanooga, he was a crime reporter with Hernando Today, a supplement of The Tampa (Fla.) ...
