After a two year process of developing a plan and proposal, the Loudon County Board of Education presented a request to commission for funding for the most ambitious building program in the board's history. The plan includes a new middle/high school on the north end of the county. It also includes a 10 classroom and auditorium addition at the Philadelphia school and a major addition to CTE, vocational class space at Loudon High School. Lastly, a new, additional gymnasium  and a complete remodeling of the football field and bleachers. The estimated price tag on all projects, $115,000,000.00. That's a lot of money. In order to fund such an aggressive building program the 25 cent property tax increase was required.

I've reported this so many times, until I'm tired of hearing it. Loudon County hasn't had a property tax increase since 2011. In fact, the property tax rate was reduced in 2014 by 4 cents. The 2011 property tax increase was also 100% for the last county school's building plan. Amazingly, even with a 25 cent increase our rate of $1.7683 is still in the lower third of county property tax rates in the state. In fact, out of 95 counties, Loudon County is now at 32.

The fact that a one hundred million dollar plus building program can be funded with such a minimal tax increase is a testament to many years of extremely conservative budgeting by the county commission. And yes, the 25 cent increase will cover the buildings, roads furnishing and staffing of the new facilities.

Obviously, no one wants to pay higher taxes of any kind, but unfortunately, funding education and providing facilities for students is not optional. The commission and school board should be applauded for taking the long view approach to resolving education needs in the Loudon County for decades rather than spending millions on band aids and temporary fixes. Certainly, there are those who would rather just stick their heads in the sand and pretend there is no problem. Unfortunately, the school board and commission doesn't have that option.

School board administrators had put together a presentation laying out the needs and plans for the future. The presentation was released back in June before the 2024-2025 enrollment numbers were known. Those numbers have grown again this year. And with the continued population explosion in the county, more and more students will be coming. The county must be prepared.   

Below is a link to the presentation and also links to previous building plan documents.

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