Alongside Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger and Sheriff Jim Hammond on the courthouse steps this morning, schools Superintendent Bryan Johnson said it is a critical moment for the county.
Coppinger introduced his proposed fiscal year 2020 budget to the Hamilton County Commission today, after unveiling it at workshop Tuesday.
The budget calls for $34 million in additional funding for Hamilton County Schools, funded by a 34-cent property tax rate increase.
Coppinger: “This is going to be something that is debated for the next few weeks but I will ask that anyone involved and also the public be respectful.”
— Sarah Grace Taylor (@_SarahGTaylor) June 5, 2019
Dozens of community leaders, prominent business owners, elected officials and educators joined the mayor outside the courthouse and stopped in support behind him.
Three commissioners – Warren Mackey, of District 4; Katherlyn Geter, of District 5; and David Sharpe, of District 6, – stood in solidarity and support of the tax hike.
Hammond echoed Coppinger and Johnson’s push for additional funding for education.
Chairs are all but full and about 20 people (outside of the press or law enforcement) are standing around the room.
— Sarah Grace Taylor (@_SarahGTaylor) June 5, 2019
Coppinger is giving pretty much the same presentation as yesterday, pointing out highlights, like those in @memangrum ‘s story yesterday.https://t.co/ZghcXjq63P
“It’s been said, if you don’t invest in your children and education, then you oughta invest in your jails,” he said. I join the Mayor and the Superintendent in wanting to move forward and we’ll do that in this budget.”
Contact Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.
Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger is kicking off a press conference on the steps of the Hamilton County Courthouse this morning via @TimesFreePress. https://t.co/ebJrH66QD2
— Meghan Mangrum (@memangrum) June 5, 2019