So much for talk of doing away with Hamilton County commissioners' discretionary funds.
Instead of the high-minded talk most commissioners espoused while they were courting our votes last year, the now-comfortably elected public servants have actually expanded their discretionary spending funds.
The commissioners voted 7-2 to divvy up the proceeds from the pending sale of the old East Brainerd Elementary School building and use the money to cover school projects in their districts. All nine commissioners already received $100,000 a year in discretionary spending for county capital projects in their districts -- money totaling almost $1 million that could go the county's general fund. Or, in a perfect world, straight to our children's education. Now those discretionary funds are just that -- largely discretionary.
The move was tacked onto a resolution allowing Mayor Jim Coppinger to move $2.2 million from the sale of the old Ooltewah Elementary School to the general fund and spend the same amount in bond funds to buy security cameras for all county schools.
Typically, the Hamilton County Board of Education officials decide what school needs are -- but not with this special, commission-crafted set-aside. With this fund, commissioners "in coordination with their respective school board members" will direct the funds. Schools Superintendent Rick Smith was asked when the sale would happen (2016), but when he tried to say more, commission Chairman Jim Fields shut him down.
Commissioner Joe Graham, who sought the amendment, said it allows commissioners to spread money more equitably across the county.
"In the last $100 million of appropriated school funds, District 6 has not seen any of that money," he said. "The schools are so far behind on technology, I wouldn't care if we didn't just take one-ninth of the money and divide it up among all my schools and let them buy technology. This is the Gig City and our schools are out of date," Graham said.
Less, not more, discretionary money is the tune commissioners sang last fall after Times Free Press stories showed their discretionary spending brought them ballfield plaques and name recognition among voting parents. But this week's vote may hint at another nagging problem. Public discussion.
If our commissioners, who already individually control more money than any other local elected officials in the state, don't trust our school superintendent and the elected school board to spend money appropriately, then perhaps they might think about having a more public debate about school needs and funding.
Graham asked for the amendment last week during an agenda session, and commissioners were provided a paper copy of the amendment's language Wednesday. Surprise! No copies were available to the public.
Commissioners didn't want any public input, any more than they wanted the superintendent's.
Just when you think our Hamilton County commissioners can't get any more tone deaf, they turn your lower jaw slack.