A Simple "Thank You" Would Have Been Enough
After months of discussion and
debate and months of being kicked around and vilified by developers and
realtors, county commission was finally able adopted the new Adequate
Schools Facility Tax. One dollar per square foot on all new residential
construction. It was no easy task and there were many obstacles that had
to be overcome. I applaud the commissions willingness to do what was
best for the County even if it was some what politically unpopular.
The new legislation provided by the state, requires that all taxes raised by the ASFT must go to the schools. While the tax is to be collected through out the county including within the cities, there is no requirement to share any of the taxes with the cities. However, Loudon County Commissioners voluntarily decided to share the tax revenues with the Lenoir City school system. You might think the Lenoir City Board Of Education members would be very happy with the unearned windfall that they neither worked for nor openly supported. You might think the Lenoir City BOE would be grateful to the Loudon County Commission for taking the beating in adopting the controversial tax. You might think the Lenoir City BOE would be happy to receive any new funding for their little school system. You might be wrong.
County commissioners should consider the attitude of the board and reconsider any sharing with the Lenoir City Board Of Education. After all, without the County students, there would be no Lenoir City School System. -v- |