Hamilton County Commissioner Tim Boyd wants some think-about-it time built into votes on county budgets and tax rates.
We understand his concerns, believe county residents will appreciate what he is trying to do, and, without knowing the details of his proposed resolution, see merits in it.
What Boyd wants to do, at least on the surface, is simple. He wants county budgets and taxes to be approved in two separate votes, presumably at two separate meetings. That puts an additional week in the process between a budget or tax presentation and the final vote on its approval or disapproval.
Currently, a presentation is made one week and voted on the next. His resolution would allow more time for commissioners to weigh the pros and cons of a proposal and for the public to seek information to aid in their understanding of it.
Boyd was miffed earlier this year when, first, his attempt to delay a vote for 30 days on the fiscal 2018 budget was rejected, and, second, when a surprise tax hike proposal by Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger was presented one week and voted on the next. Boyd's was the only vote against the tax proposal, which lowered the county millage rate (due to 2017 assessments) as required by law, and then moved it back to the former assessment rate, which essentially raised property taxes on many residents.
Chattanooga and many other chartered cities use the two-vote process to approve ordinances both for budget and tax proposals and for many other matters.
"The two-vote practice ensures taxpayers have ample notification of a proposed property tax increase," Boyd said in a letter to his colleagues. "This change in policy gives our constituents [more time] to contact their respective commissioner to ask questions or voice an opinion on a proposed tax increase."
Since commissioners hadn't raised taxes in 10 years and since this year's proposal was predicated by the quadrennial reassessment, votes were unlikely to change had there been an extra week of consideration.
Coppinger and commissioners realized that, with a new schools superintendent, with growing schools facilities needs, with the need for a new jail and sewage treatment plant, and with 2018 being an election year, this was the best opportunity they had to garner new revenue.
Commissioners reached by the Times Free Press Monday weren't ready to approve or disapprove Boyd's proposal but were willing to hear more. Sometimes, that's all you can ask.
We would not expect an extra vote - and an extra week - for consideration of budget or tax proposals to be a frequent game-changer. But it may give commissioners and the public the peace that they have had their say.