Rick Smith, Superintendent of Hamilton County Schools.

Hamilton County School Superintendent Rick Smith has asked the County Commission to release a pot of money it has been holding since last year.

Smith said the payment-in-lieu of taxes funds earmarked for education are needed to help meet increasing costs of state-mandated teacher raises.

The County Commission voted last year to hold the money for capital projects, and more than $1 million is being held in escrow..

"A new building is incredible in what it does in driving energy," Smith said. "But folks, the teachers in the classroom are the most important thing we have to deal with."

The commission will vote next week whether to rescind the resolution passed last February to hold the money.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.