Most Hamilton County commissioners say no to tax hike for schools

A majority of Hamilton County commissioners said Tuesday they will not vote next month in favor of a tax increase for Hamilton County public schools.

"I want to see some results before agreeing to give more money," said Commissioner Sabrena Turner-Smedley, chairwoman of the education committee.

Commissioner Sabrena Turner-Smedley speaks during the Hamilton County Commission meeting in this file photo.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 5/17/16. Kirk Kelly, interim superintendent and Christy Jordan, assistant superintendent of finance present the school budget during the Hamilton County Commission meeting on May 17, 2016. on Tuesday May 17, 2016.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 5/17/16. Kirk Kelly, interim superintendent and Christy Jordan, assistant superintendent of finance present the school budget during the Hamilton County Commission meeting on May 17, 2016. on Tuesday May 17, 2016.

Councilman Greg Beck speaks during a Hamilton County commission meeting.

County Mayor Jim Coppinger said Tuesday he's yet to decide whether he will include in his fiscal year 2017 budget the additional $24 million requested by the school system, which school leaders say will help improve literacy, expand vocational programs and improve the district's lowest-performing schools.

Hamilton County Schools Interim Superintendent Kirk Kelly presented the school system's proposed budget for next year to the commission Tuesday. After the meeting, Commissioners Turner-Smedley, Randy Fairbanks, Chester Bankston, Marty Haynes and Tim Boyd told the Times Free Press they won't support the property-tax increase required to boost school funding.

Fully funding the school system's request of $385 million would require a property tax increase of about $71 a year for a home valued at $100,000.

The last tax increase for the school system was in 2005 when a 26-cent property-tax increase was approved. Sixteen cents of that went to schools and 10 cents to general government. In 2007, another 26-cent increase was passed and all the money went to the general government, but included targeted revenue to replace Red Bank Middle and East Ridge Elementary School.

During the presentation Tuesday, Kelly told the commission the additional funding will help the school system meet achievement goals.

"The success of our county is going to be dependent on the students we produce," he said.

Following the presentation, Kelly said he thought it went well.

"I was encouraged by what the commissioners said about supporting the mayor's budget," Kelly said, referencing comments made by Commissioners Greg Beck and Joe Graham.

Both Beck and Graham said from the dais Tuesday they intend to support whatever funding Coppinger puts toward education in the proposed budget.

But when questioned by the Times Free Press after the meeting, both said they would reconsider their support of the budget if it included a tax increase.

Commissioner Warren Mackey said after the meeting he intends to support Coppinger's proposed education budget - regardless.

Mackey added that there are many things the school system can be doing with the money it has, such as rezoning students to fill the district's empty classrooms and reassigning top-performing principals.

When asked about supporting the tax increase, Haynes said he will not be in favor of increased funding for schools until a permanent superintendent is selected.

Commissioner Jim Fields did not return phone calls requesting comment Tuesday.

During Tuesday's meeting, several commissioners clarified that they were not blaming Kelly, but prior administrators, for the state of the school system.

Beck said in previous years he's trusted the school system and has been a proponent for increased funding.

"But I haven't trusted [the school system] the last couple years," he added.

Graham said the commission obviously values education, as 60 percent of the county's budget goes to schools, adding that each year the school system receives increased funding from revenue growth and test scores continue to decline.

"I think we have proven that money is not the problem," he said.

Turner-Smedley noted that last year then-Superintendent Rick Smith requested an additional $34 million to bring things like art and foreign language into the district's elementary schools. She asked if the district's new focus was a result of the Chattanooga 2.0 initiative to improve public education and workforce development.

Kelly answered that the proposed budget is reflective of what community members have said they want.

Concluding the meeting, Coppinger applauded Kelly and the school system for setting "aggressive timelines" for progress in the proposed budget.

Coppinger acknowledged obstacles facing the school system like the high number of students living in poverty and the increasing number of English language learners, and said the county has to keep fighting to offer all students the best education.

"Those are not people we give up on," he said, adding that community support of education is vital to success.

Staff writer Paul Leach contributed to this story.

Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow on twitter @kendi_and.