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April 17, 2006
More Money for Hamilton County Education from State: Adams says No, Bailes says Yes
Dead last in funding from the state, Hamilton County Schools deserve better. In today's Chattanooga Times Free Press, Curtis Adams and I spar over the battle for more money from the state for our county schools. I believe we have no choice but to continue fighting for state money. Mr Adams has decided to give up.
Here's an excerpt from the article:
County Commission primaries will take place May 2, and the general election is Aug. 3. At least one candidate thinks the formula is not something county officials will be able to alter significantly, despite campaign pledges.
Republican Commissioner Curtis Adams said that a strong faction of rural legislators will prevent changes that would shift the formula in favor or urban counties such as Hamilton, Knox, Davidson and Shelby. "There’s no way they could go in there and vote to take away money from the little counties," Mr. Adams said. "You can’t take it away once they have it."
Mr. Adams’ Democratic opponent, John Bailes, said changes to the formula won’t come easily but he would push for change nonetheless if elected. He said change will have to come "incrementally," and in the meantime he wants to seek out other education funding sources.
"If, to use Mr. Adams’ phrase, all politicians are either ‘wimps’ or ‘warriors,’ and he says this is a losing battle, where does that leave him?" Mr. Bailes said.
Mr. Adams said he knows his position is unpopular. He said many rural county officials say Hamilton County gets a big boost in tax revenue from their residents shopping at Hamilton Place and other areas in the county.
"My job as an experienced commissioner is to tell the truth," Mr. Adams said. "I’m not going to give any delusions about what we could do."
Click on for more: "Many commissioners, opponents want to see more money for county schools"
| By wjbailes | 07:28 AM
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