When the first of many discussions began about funding the proposed building plan, it was thought it might take a 50 cent property tax increase. As more information was provided, it looked more like a 30 cent increase would be needed. In the final review, we learned it would take a 25 cent property tax increase to fund the building program (half of what was initially thought). Any property tax increase is bad enough, but to be able to provide a hundred million dollars for a 25 cent increase is phenomenal. And every penny will go to the school building plan and future operations. The county general fund receives none of the increase.

The only way there wasn't going to be a property tax increase was, if we, the commission, did nothing. Some called for just doing the three smaller projects and not the new school. The three smaller projects were nearly 20 million dollars. A property tax increase would have been needed. And none of those three projects addressed any issues at North Middle or Eatons.

The county commission doesn't run or manage the schools, the commission is not the boss of the school board. They are as equally elected officials with commissioners. The commission's only involvement is to fund or not to fund the school boards requests. They presented their requests, based on what they feel is best for the long term welfare of the county school system. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your view point, the funding request was approved.

Moving forward, it's now all on the school board to decide the direction they go. I know they've heard all the complaints, concerns and demands. It will be up to them if they want to alter their plans, get an assessment or reduce the scope of the building plan. They have a fixed amount of funding to work with that they must stay with in.    

If after 20 years in elective office, and if I chose to run again, if this one vote cost me an election, so be it. I will always know I was doing what was right and what many of my constituents wanted and to meet the needs of the county for many generations to come.

There's an old saying that goes, a man who plants a tree knowing he will never sit in it's shade, is a man who is thinking of the future. I feel what we did last week was to plant a tree. Hopefully providing for a generation of children who haven't even been born yet.

I would like to make a few last points.

The night of the vote, I had no idea if the vote would pass or fail. Not a single other commissioner had asked me to support or oppose the vote to fund, nor have I ever asked any other commissioner to support or oppose the funding.

I have had no involvement in the proposed school board building plan of any kind other than voting for the funding. I was not involved with the decision of what to build, when to build or where to build and certainly had no involvement in the site selection. If you hear or read anything to the contrary, don't believe it, it's absolutely NOT TRUE.

For those who have been so opposed, there are still hurdles that could delay or alter the plans. The school board has a fixed amount of money now to work with. If the costs go higher than expected or interests rates go higher, alternate plans will have to be made.

It's anticipated, if everything went perfectly, the earliest the new school could open would be August 2027, more likely, 2028.

Just know, educating kids isn't going to get any cheaper next year or thereafter.