Tim Boyd
Hamilton County commissioners are re-extending hands to their school board counterparts after years of gridlock with the hope of bypassing tension the next time the board of education needs money or wants to build new schools.
Commissioner Tim Boyd, who leads the commission's education committee, told that panel's members Wednesday he wants them to start building relations with their counterparts on the school board -- and specifically members of the board's facilities management committee.
Past efforts to arrange meetings between the full commission and school board have idled for years. The lack of communication has built tension between the school board and the commission when large education projects need funding, Boyd said.
This time they are going to try the smaller groups first.
And school board Chairman George Ricks, who also leads the facilities committee, couldn't agree more.
"I'm for getting together. I think as soon as they call me we'll get something scheduled as soon as possible," Ricks said. "I think it's really time we sat down and had a heart-to-heart talk."
Boyd says he hopes the two committees will meet ahead of winter holidays, and again before budget-making time in spring.
"If we can just do that, not try to bring everybody to a table, but just six people," Boyd said. "We can't just sit back here with both barrels cocked waiting for them to do something."
Commissioner Chester Bankston, a former school board member, said communication between the two bodies is key.
"I think if each commissioner makes it a point to have a good relationship with their school board member, it will make it a lot easier when you have to bring it together," Bankston told members of the committee.
After the education meeting, Commissioner Warren Mackey, former chairman of the commission's education committee, said he tried for years to get the groups together without success, but he was "hopeful" they could meet.
Mackey said historically the commission has been skeptical about school projects because once commissioners give the school board money, commissioners no longer have a say in how it gets spent. He doesn't want to run the school system, but he does want to be kept in the loop, Mackey said.
"It does stand to reason, if we understood better what they were going to do [with funding] we could carry that message to our constituents to explain why we gave them that money. Taxpayers want to understand what they are getting for that money," Mackey said.
Underneath the talk of increased communication and cooperation is the spectre of a looming request for a tax increase. Ahead of budget-making last year, school system Superintendent Rick Smith told a group of school officials he "hope[s] to live to the day where we have a tax increase in this county."
Commissioners in the education committee Wednesday universally rejected that idea.
Mackey said later that better relations with the school board could change that sentiment, but it's not likely.
"It's very hard to even think about a tax increase when you don't know what you are getting for your money," he said.
Contact staff writer Louie Brogdon atlbrogdon@timesfreepress.com, @glbrogdoniv on Twitter or at 423-757-6481.