Skip to main content
Friday, October 30, 2026Oct 30
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

This story is free to read.

Greeson: Talks of bravery, open-mindedness and influence on school tax increase

People gather to watch a news conference outside the Hamilton County Courthouse in support of Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger's fiscal year 2020 budget on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Mayor Coppinger later presented his budget, which calls for a tax increase for additional funding for schools, to the county commission.
People gather to watch a news conference outside the Hamilton County Courthouse in support of Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger's fiscal year 2020 budget on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Mayor Coppinger later presented his budget, which calls for a tax increase for additional funding for schools, to the county commission. People gather to watch a news conference outside the Hamilton County Courthouse in support of Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger's fiscal year 2020 budget on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Mayor Coppinger later presented his budget, which calls for a tax increase for additional funding for schools, to the county commission.

By Jay Greeson 4 min read

photo Jay Greeson

Wednesday morning at the Hamilton County Courthouse started with doughnuts and several dozen poster-waving partisans clamoring for a tax increase.

Yes, a tax increase. You’ve likely heard about it. It’s made most of the papers.

Wednesday morning blended into Wednesday lunch as various Hamilton County citizens took to the podium and used their allotted three minutes to praise or condemn the proposed 34-cent tax increase to boost the Hamilton County Schools’ budget by about $34 million in county money.

The tenor and tone of the proceedings in the commissioners’ chamber were telling.

Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger presented his budget to the gathering, a group assuredly less enthusiastic than the UnifiEd-supported gaggle of onlookers outside the courthouse before the meeting.