Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Rick Smith speaks to the media in this file photo.

Hamilton County Commissioners voted 6-3 today to return control of PILOT funds to the school system.

The move reverses a vote they made more than a year ago to hold payment-in-lieu-of-tax funds in escrow for capital projects.

Commissioner Joe Graham attempted to table the vote until after a March 1 joint meeting of the commission and the school board. That motion failed.

Commissioners Greg Beck, Chester Bankston, Tim Boyd, Warren Mackey, Larry Henry and Mitch McClure voted to release the funds. Commissioners Joe Graham, Fred Skillern and Jim Fields voted to keep control.

Hamilton County Schools Supt. Rick Smith said after the meeting that he plans to put the funds to immediate use.

"At this particular time we'll look at those funds and use them in the school system to the best advantage," Smith said.