KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Knox County commissioner approved a motion Monday night to give schools some but not all of the money Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre requested.
Following the public forum portion of the meeting the commissioners began their own debate of Mayor Tim Burchett's proposed a $637.7 million budget. In the end, commissioners approved by a 7-4 vote Chairman Mike Hammond's sub-motion.
The sub-motion called for an additional $7 million for schools. The money would come from several areas, including $3 million from the mayor's reading program, $1 million from the Basic Education Program fund and the county and school system will each take $1.5 million from their rainy day funds.
The mayor did not include a tax increase in the budget. Though the new allocation increases funding for schools, it falls short of the $35 million school officials are requesting.
Following the budget vote, Mayor Tim Burchett said he was satisfied that commissioners chose to avoid raising taxes.
"The main thing today is we did not pass a tax increase on to the votes and I think that's a good thing," said Burchett. "What we funded is just for raising scores. So if they don't raise test scores, then we know we have a problem."
"I'm certainly absolutely willing to be held accountable," Dr. McIntyre replied. "We have laid out a strong case that will make a difference for student success and we expect to see the results, and so I'll be held accountable for them."
A last-minute push to lobby for the schools' budget request started early Monday.
"We have to do something," said Jamey Dobbs, of the League of Women Voters. "This isn't a time to be sitting back and waiting for people to do things."
A cart of 500 apples was dropped off in front of the commission office by the grassroots organization Support our Schools.
The cart was dubbed "Apples for Education" and labeled "the community with the best schools wins."
"We're hoping that this is going to generate some additional energy for them to stand behind what some of them say they will support," said Dobbs.
"There's a big fat worm in those apples," answered Lloyd Daugherty of the Tennessee Conservative Union. "It's bad political worm and if they take a bite of it, they'll going to be remembered at election time -- not for putting more money in schools. They're going to remembered for taking money out of the hands of Knox County taxpayers."
The Tennessee Conservative Union made several hundred calls to voters in the last few weeks voicing opposition to a tax increase.
Members say the school board's request is unrealistic for taxpayers.
"If we were convinced that what the money is for is truly needed, we wouldn't be opposing this," Daugherty said.
The Great Schools Partnership says this year's budget vote is the single most important decision regarding Knox County schools made in the last ten years.
An exclusive poll taken last week by 6 News showed strong opposition to increasing taxes to boost school funding.
Knox County commissioners listened as more than 30 people expressed their opinions.
A cart of 500 apples was dropped off in front of the commission office by the grassroots organization Support our Schools.
"This isn't a time to be sitting back and waiting for people to do things," said Jamey Dobbs, of the League of Women Voters.
"If we were convinced that what the money is for is truly needed, we wouldn't be opposing this," said Lloyd Daugherty of the Tennessee Conservative Union.
