Greeson: Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger gets tax touchdown passed

County Mayor Jim Coppinger comments during the meeting.  Listening in the background is County Attorney Rheubin Taylor.  The Hamilton County Commission listened to a presentation and recommendations for short and long-term jail and workhouse overcrowding at the Wednesday meeting in the Hamilton County Courthouse on August 29, 2017.
County Mayor Jim Coppinger comments during the meeting. Listening in the background is County Attorney Rheubin Taylor. The Hamilton County Commission listened to a presentation and recommendations for short and long-term jail and workhouse overcrowding at the Wednesday meeting in the Hamilton County Courthouse on August 29, 2017.

It will officially be Res. No. 917-12.

It will be Hamilton County's first broad increase in tax revenue in a decade. (Technically it's not an across-the- board tax increase, but for most of us, our property taxes increased Wednesday morning.)

Theoretically, it's a statement about progress and need, and some would say - the vote was met with applause from a packed County Commission - an act from elected officials doing what they believe to be right rather doing what they believe to be right for their re-election hopes.

In actuality, the almost 27-cent-per-$100 increase will be the punctuation at the end of this sentence: Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger just sealed the deal as the most effective local political leader around these parts.

photo Jay Greeson

In a time when taxes are a four-letter word, Coppinger and his staff crafted a plan to address three major county needs and got it passed with as little bloodshed as possible.

Yes, during the hour-long community sound-off, there were four citizens - including local tea party bigwig Mark West, who fairly questioned the tax breaks offered by commissioners in recent years - who spoke against Wednesday's decision.

By comparison, there were eight citizens, including some familiar names like Bill Kilbride and Jon Kinsey, speaking for the increase in the millage rate.

It was some expert politicking by Coppinger, the former Hixson High quarterback who got his touchdown passed.

It was hardly a Hail Mary, though. In fact, the long drive to this point started as a possibility as far back as February, when Coppinger and his crew were testing the waters and acknowledging that increased property tax revenues might be a possibility.

While Wednesday had less drama than picking up your order at the drive-thru window, here's how much moving and shaking Team Coppinger did to make this infusion of hundreds of millions happen: When first broached six months ago, this idea was closer to 1-8 than the 8-1 vote Wednesday.

"I feel good about it because I know a lot of thought and consideration have gone into this decision," Coppinger said. "Now I certainly had some sleepless and restless nights thinking about this and how it will affect people, especially the elderly.

"Nobody likes taxes, but the right decision for progress in this county was made today."

The money will address the needs of the jail, some sewer issues and most notably the building issues of our school system.

It's safety, progress and education, issues that Coppinger has consistently said are at the core of county government's job.

Afterward, Coppinger was quick with the compliments. His staff. The community support. The eight commissioners who voted yes.

"This is not about one person, regardless of who you are talking about," he said. "This is about the people of Hamilton County."

While the other two destinations of this addition revenue are warranted, it will be the nine-figure addition to the school system budget to address the district's much-publicized and much-needed capital concerns that will be the most closely monitored.

The effectiveness with which Coppinger made this happen with our tax dollars now should make us wonder how the Board of Education and new Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson will use this windfall.

"We have an outstanding relationship with him, and we look forward to continuing to work with him," Coppinger said of the new schools chief.

There have been casual discussions about the projects important to the system.

"Every school board member represents a district and every district has needs," school board member Joe Smith said right after the vote, "but we can't operate in silos.

"We have to work in a spirit of one. We all serve our districts, but we have to prioritize this and make sure we are serving all of Hamilton County."

Whether the school board can accomplish that remains to be seen.

If they have some questions, though, they should call the ol' Hixson QB, who engineered a big-time touchdown Wednesday.

Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6343.

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