Murl DirksenCLEVELAND, Tenn. – Cleveland school board members voted unanimously Tuesday to support the proposed countywide $32 wheel tax, set to be on the August ballot.
Board members urged other government leaders to do the same, saying voter approval of the tax — to be assessed each time a vehicle is registered in Bradley County — is a vital part of building money for school building needs, which only will increase as more jobs come to town.
Otherwise, they said, city and county residents may face a property tax to meet education needs.
“Anytime we are providing for the children of our community, that’s not a political issue, it’s a moral issue,” board member Murl Dirksen said.
Paying $32 a year is equivalent to contributing to church mission projects to build schools elsewhere in the world, he said.