No Wheel Tax or Property Tax Increase At This Time– County Schools Additional Funding Request Denied

The Coffee County Commission met on Tuesday night to discuss the county budget.
The county school system had originally asked for $1.4 million above last year’s budget plus other departments were asking for extra funding. After budget and finance meetings took place it came down to the county school system looking at possibly getting $300,000 additional funding for the 2015-16 school year. With matching funds that are required by law to be split between the Manchester and Tullahoma school systems, the actual request was for $600,000.
On Tuesday night the county commission had on the agenda a possible wheel tax of $10 or a property tax increase of 6 cents. Commissioner Steven Jones made a motion to take those items off the agenda for consideration and the motion passed 15-5. So there will be no wheel tax or property tax increase at this time and the overall county budget was approved.
Dr LaDonna McFall Director of Schools for Coffee County had this to say in response to her request being denied. “I am concerned that our school system is consistently left out when funding is allocated in our county.” McFall added, “Educational equality should not depend on where a student is born or lives, however, in our case it does as we invest less per pupil than most any surrounding districts.” The director went on to say, “Our students are lucky to be served by some of the most dedicated educators with whom I have ever worked and they are the reason our students thrive.” McFall said, “We spend far more per inmate than we do per student in Coffee County.” “We need long term solutions, collaborative planning, and teamwork among our leaders to move our county forward.” She says that we don’t need individuals speaking half-truths, pointing fingers, and pretending to have all of the answers. “We need strong, courageous leadership to do what needs to be done so that we don’t continue to find ourselves in the same situation year after year.” McFall stressed, “We need to work together now to develop long term funding solutions.”
“This year will certainly be a financial struggle.” Director McFall finished up her response by saying, “However, I know that our teachers and staffs will continue to be a voice for children and in spite of circumstances, our students will be well served.”