Schools Growing at Rapid Pace

Despite another year with funding challenges caused by a budget battle between the School Board and County Commission, the Sumner County Schools are seeing enormous growth in student population with an increase of more than 1200 students over the same time period last year.

The growth is putting an added strain on a district that will soon be forced to layoff a number of teachers because the County Commission rejected its budget request. 

Local investment in Sumner Schools has dropped in recent years and now represents only 32% of total revenue spent on schools.  Statewide, the average is 39% local funding. 

Sumner is one of the top 5 wealthiest counties in the state and has the lowest property tax rate of any county touching Davidson in middle Tennessee.  The last property tax increase was 9 years ago. 

Despite incredible growth in student population and a clear increase in costs over the past 9 years, the County Commission has steadfastly refused to consider new measures for generating revenue and dedicating it to the school system. 

The only possibility for new funds for schools in the near future is a referendum that would increase the wheel tax -- effectively costing the average family less than a dollar a week -- and generate some $3 million annually that is dedicated exclusively for schools. 

The referendum specifically spells out that all monies generated from the school fund referendum will go to the general purpose fund of the schools.  Voters would have to approve any change in that designation by way of a referendum -- the County Commission has no power to take those funds away from schools.