What are they unwilling to pay?

So, we're reading (and reporting) that the County Commission is refusing to fully fund the Schools budget which will likely lead to job cuts and a lack of textbooks for students. Some Commissioners say that the tax increase required to fund the requested budget is too high. That such a big increase would burden taxpayers. That it is better for schools to go without or for people to lose their jobs than for taxes to go up by such a large amount.





Let's see, then, what exactly it is they are unwilling to pay. Four of the most outspoken Commissioners on this issue are Chairman Merrol Hyde, Budget Chair Kirk Moser, Comm. Jerry Stone and Comm. Jim Vaughn.





We did some searching and found out how much THEIR tax bills would increase if a proposed 15 cent property tax hike went into effect (the amount needed to cover the School Board's proposed budget and keep people from losing their jobs).

Here are the numbers:

On his property valued at $201,700 and with a taxable assessment of $50,425, Commission Chairman Merrol Hyde would pay a whopping $75.64 more per year, or just $6.30 a month.

On his property valued at $269,800 and with a taxable assessment of $$67,450, Budget Committee Chairman Kirk Moser would pay $101.75 more per year, or just $8.43 a month.

On his property valued at $346,400 and with a taxable assessment of $86,600, Comm. Jerry Stone would pay $129.90 more per year, or just $10.83 a month.

On his property valued at $335,000 and with a taxable assessment of $83,750, Comm. Jim Vaughn would pay $125.63 a year, or just $10.47 a month.

These Commissioners have been saying that a 15 cent property tax hike is just too much.

Now, we know what they mean: $6 to $10 a month is just too much for these guys to spend on helping our public schools keep up with Sumner County's growth.