Sales Tax increase for school building fund may appear on August ballot

Several members of the Solid Waste Committee refused to sign a resolution that would bring an increased Sales Tax option before the voters of Lewis County during a meeting on Monday.

The City of Hohenwald already pledged their portion of any sales tax increase that might pass in an August referendum to Lewis County Schools to assist in construction of a new facility.

Increased awareness of safety issues, heightened last year when a student threatened to “shoot up” the middle school, a threat that was made with no weapons involved, nevertheless, brought to the forefront the need for safer campuses.

The Lewis County School Board and Director Benny Pace have saved approximately $10 million in a building fund over the past 10 years to prevent any property tax increases or other burdens to Lewis County taxpayers in anticipation of the need for a new school.

Sales tax revenue, due to Lewis County being a retail hub, would be generated by many customers from surrounding counties, as well as local citizens.

Two other commissioners who were attending the Solid Waste Committee special called meeting, but who were not part of the committee, Patrick Halfacre and Brian Peery, agreed to bring the resolution before the entire commission which meets Monday, May 18, 2020.

Proposed is a sales tax increase of .25 percent, all to be used for building of a new school.