City-county school funding fight coming to a climax

March 3– The Savannah City Commission meets tomorrow for the third and final reading of an ordinance that puts to rest a long-running education funding dispute between the city and Hardin County.

In a compromise, city commissioners have agreed to funnel $4.5 million to the county to complete construction of Northside Elementary School near Walmart.

The county will receive a $535,000 upfront payment from the city, with the balance coming gradually in the form of proceeds from Savannah’s share of a half-cent increase in the local option sales tax rate approved by city and county voters alike in 1997.

Beginning at that time, the city’s portion of that money went to help the county retire a $16.5 million debt incurred primarily to renovate and expand Hardin County High School.

When the debt was retired in the latter half of 2007, city officials stopped giving the money to the county, saying the obligation had been met and it was past time for the city to address its own infrastructure needs.

The city does not operate a school system and has no legal obligation to do so–or to fund the county schools in excess of the requirements of state law.

But county officials had been counting on that extra cash infusion from the city to help fund the current $38.5 million school renovation and construction project that closes five older schools and builds two new, larger facilities.

 

They pointed out the Savannah City Commission in 1997 had "recommended" in writing that the city continue to give the money to the county even after the high school debt was paid off, as long as the sales tax proceeds went for school construction work.

In addition to considering final approval of the funding mechanism for the $4.5 million at the 7 p.m. meeting, city commissioners are also set to take up a resolution providing "commentary" on the city-county contract, which could stretch as long as 16 years depending on the level of sales tax revenue.

"We don’t want to be 10 or 15 or 20 years down the road and have people thinking they meant this or they meant that," said Savannah City Manager Garry Welch. "It’s just really a brief version of the contract."

The commentary is perhaps most noteworthy in that it does not recommend or promise in any way that the city will continue the sales tax agreement beyond the current contract.

In exchange for the city’s participation, Savannah is to receive the North Elementary School property once it is vacated by the Hardin County Board of Education, and 68 acres.

Among other business items on the agenda, commissioners are to consider purchasing a $239,000 pumper fire truck to replace two 1970s model, and spending nearly $23,000 for a computerized water meter reading system.