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PARIS -– Voters in Henry County have a
choice: pay a one-half percent higher sales
tax or more property taxes to fund new
school construction on the Grove campus in
Paris. Either way, taxpayers will see an
increase in their tax burden. On Tuesday,
February 19 county commissioners voted nine
to six to implement one of the taxing
methods to fund the $3.8 million new
construction project at Grove.
Voting to send the measure to referendum
were: Earl Anderson, Dell Carter, Jeff
Hamlin, Paul Mathenia, James Travis, Don
Jones, Randy Veazey, Larry Watson, and David
Webb. Voting against were: Mitchell Evans,
Bobby Freeman, Kenneth Humphreys, Dan
Paschall, Mary Warren, and Tim Wirgau.
At issue was whether or not to fund a school
construction project. The measure allows the
citizens to approve or reject a one-half
cent increase in the local option sales tax
during the August state primaries. If
approved, the total sales tax – including
state and local – will be 9.75 percent, just
as it is in neighboring Benton, Carroll, and
Weakley counties. The new sales tax will
apply to the first $1,600 of a single item
purchased or a total of $8 on a big ticket
item, such as a car. If the referendum
fails, the county commission will add up to
seven cents to the $2.35 property tax rate
on the local property tax rate to retire the
indebtedness. A seven-cent hike in the
property tax will add $17.50 annually to the
tax bill on a residence appraised at
$100,000. Revenues from a sales tax increase
will be shared by Paris Special School
District based on a per pupil formula,
unless the PSSD opts out of the additional
revenue.
If voters approve the sales tax hike, the
county general fund, each of the
municipalities, Paris Special School
District, and the Henry County Schools will
each share in the new revenues.
Overall, annual sales tax revenues going to
education in Henry County (the two school
systems) will increase $762,784 annually
equating to $289,858 for PSSD and $472,926
for Henry County Schools. The following
governmental entities will also benefit from
a county-wide sales tax hike: (annual
estimated increases in tax revenues) – Henry
County General Fund - $112,944; Paris City -
$632,098; Cottage Grove $1,430; Henry City
$3,345; Puryear $7,123; and McKenzie City
$5,844. McKenzie Special School District
will not receive any of the additional
funding.
If the sales tax hike passes in August,
those businesses and industries inside the
Henry County portion of McKenzie (Hig’s
Restaurant area) would increase the current
sales tax rate of 9.25 percent to 9.75
percent, equal to the tax rate of the
remainder of the city.
Following the meeting, Rick Kriesky,
director of schools, said the school will
move forward with design and engineering
planning with the architectural firm of
Kaatz, Binkley, Jones and Morris. He
estimated the project would be sent out for
bids in the next 60 days.
As proposed, the new construction project
would be performed in two phases. Phase 1
would add 22,800 sq. ft of new space behind
the Grove School's 1997 addition. Located
along Harrison St., it would replace the
music and agriculture rooms, gym, concession
and lobby area and Head Start classrooms
that are presently located in Weston Hall.
It also would include a covered walkway from
the 1997 addition to the new building.
Curtis noted the walkway would be
handicapped accessible, with no steps
whatsoever.
Phase 2 would involve demolition of the
60-year-old historic Weston Hall (everything
in the blond brick building).
The new construction will feature a parking
area which is comparable in size to the
parking space presently at Grove School. The
new parking area would front Harrison St.
Demolition of historic Weston Hall was at
issue as well. Kriesky said the current
building does not meet fire, safety, fresh
air, or American Disability Act standards.
An upgrade to the building is estimated at
$5.6 million as compared to new construction
at $3.8 million. Any renovations to the
existing structures mandates upgrades to
meet other safety requirements such as
fresh-air intakes, electrical system
upgrades, asbestos abatement, fire dampers,
and handicap accessibility.
Commissioner David Webb said he wrestled
with the proposed project at E.W. Grove
School. However, he concluded it’s in the
long-term best interest of Henry County. He
said the facility should be demolished and
the memories preserved. An exhibit on the
history of Grove should endow through
displays of objects, photographs and
documents of the historic “school that came
from a bottle”.
“Sooner or later, something must be done to
either replace or extensively renovate
Weston Hall. If we wait, construction costs
will increase and interest rates will have
no where to go but up”, said Webb. “If we
wait, this project will cost us taxpayers
more. If we wait, we are putting out
students with disabilities at risk and, for
that matter, anyone who is inside Weston
Hall at risk during an emergency situation.”
Henry County Mayor Brent Greer said the 89
percent of the county’s debt is
school-related. Approximately 10 years, the
previous administration and the school board
decided to consolidate Puryear and Cottage
Grove schools into a new Harrelson School.
That was an emotional issue and the
commission decided not to raise taxes at
that time. The indebtedness extends to 2025.
The proposed project could be funded by
extending the current bond indebtedness by
two years, said the mayor. |
The McKenzie Banner
