Seymour Commissioner balks at linking tax increase to non-profit funding

Sevier County Commissioner Bill Oakes, who serves the 6^th district in Seymour, made known his frustration with the Seymour Herald reporting the tax increase in conjunction with the non-profit funding analysis.

In an earlier conversation, Oakes called and said the story was untrue and not factual. When contacted this week, Oaks stepped back and said that, "…it was not untrue, but was not completely factual." Oakes went on to say that the story could have been written in another, more positive way.

When asked what he meant, Oakes responded that the primary reason for the tax increase was for the schools. "…not enough sales tax is coming back from the state." The General Assembly recently approved a reformulation of the BEP formula that provides funds for county schools. It is estimated that Sevier County will be getting $5 Million less this year from the state. The tax increase approved by the Sevier County Commission was expected to only bring in $2.3 Million.

Oakes continued, saying "…the county school system adds about 450 kids a year." Oakes argued that this, along with an unfunded State mandated pay increase for teachers causes strain on the county.