The letter form Lenoir City mayor, Tony Aikens, continues to argue for taking funding from the county schools and giving it to the city schools.

My reply to mayor Aikens letter:

To all,
 

I appreciate the mayor's position and would expect no less, But here's another alternative, Lenoir City council should rescind their vote to not supply the necessary ASFT paperwork to the Trustee's office as soon as possible. Especially since their actions are a violation of state law.

The county commission's position should be to assist the county schools financially as much as possible as it is the council's position to support the city schools. The city schools picked up an additional $400,000.00 from the county schools this year through the BEP split. That's quite a blow to the county schools. 

Under the current county budget, the county will continue to, voluntary, share the ASFT with the city however, the city does not share any of their local revenues with the county. The city schools could in fact share a portion of their sales tax revenues with the county schools. After all, county residents pay a lot of sales tax to the city.  Also, while there are a number of county students in the city system, there are also a lot of city students in the county schools.

The city just passed a 17% property tax increase which should easily make up any lost revenues the city school system would see from the additional 2.5% of the ASFT going to county schools.

Lastly, the county is in it's rights in sharing the ASFT with the city and determining the amount. City officials are currently in violation of state law by withholding the documentation to collect the ASFT. And by not participating, the city's actions will simply hurt both systems when collections rates go down due to the city's actions. The financial loss to both systems will be much greater than the 2.5%.

Van Shaver

The mayor has been calling commissioners and having others call commissioners trying to get them to vote to give the 2.5% of the ASFT to the city schools.

My guess and it's just a guess mind you, is that Aikens knows he's put himself, his council and building officials in legal jeopardy with their decision to disregard state law on the matter of ASFT participation. Aikens even asked county mayor, Buddy Bradshaw, to hold a special called meeting to have commissioners vote to move the 2.5% ASFT funding from the county schools to the city. Not sure if that means he thinks he's pressured enough commissioners to vote his way or what.

I wouldn't predict which way this issue will go but I can guarantee there's at least one commissioner, me, who will not be voting to take money from our county schools.

City officials have long wanted more of the ASFT. Here's a link to a couple of stories from back in 2006

A Simple "Thank You" Would Have Been Enough

We'll be discussing the matter at tonight's commission workshop.