We are intrigued from an informational standpoint at the suggestion by two Hamilton County commissioners that a referendum be held to determine whether county voters would support a higher sales tax to support public schools.
The county school district is, at the moment, facing $18 million in budget cuts due to, officials say, higher insurance costs and lower than expected revenue.
Hamilton County Commissioners Joe Graham, R-Lookout Valley, and David Sharpe, D-Red Bank, both mentioned a referendum at Wednesday’s County Commission meeting, though Graham suggested the referendum only be a question of whether to raise the tax and Sharpe would add a specific amount.
We say we are intrigued because we don’t believe referendums are the best way to settle questions the commission doesn’t want to deal with. After all, if the public votes to fund a tax increase, commissioners can say their hands are clean — the public, not they, sought the increase.
Too, it would be easy to fall in love with referendums to settle disputes. If commissioners can’t come to a consensus on any issue, just put it to the voters. Never mind the cost to the public for the elections.