Opinion
TIMES EDITORIAL: Time for county to make a decision on school tax
At first, we applauded members of the Cullman County Commission for taking their time deciding whether to raise a sales tax to help fund county schools.
After all, it’s a big decision, one that is likely to be controversial no matter what they decide. If they pass the tax, they’ll be roasted for raiding their constituents’ pocketbooks in the middle of a deep recession. If they don’t raise the tax, they’ll be vilified for not taking care of the county’s schoolchildren. Either way, they’re going to make a lot of people mad.
We’re glad we’re not on the county commission right now.
But three people sought that job, ran for office and won it. As much as we don’t envy their seats in times like these, the public didn’t elect commissioners with the intention of filling a cushy, easy job. No, it’s an incredibly difficult job at times, one that requires the commissioners to exercise leadership and good judgement on important issues facing our community.
What could be more important than taxes and schools?
Since the issue was first raised publicly in January, commissioners have had plenty of time to think about the tax. They’ve heard the pros and cons, seen a lot of numbers and heard emotional pleas on both sides. They were slow to move at first, which is a smart idea given the nature of this complex and controversial issue. They need to think through it carefully and methodically.
But more recently, it seems like they’re just stalling.
Their latest objections are merely splitting hairs. Two commissioners say they’d be more open to passing the tax if 100 percent of the proceeds went to county schools.
We don’t buy that logic. If the tax were passed today, the Cullman County schools would get 80 percent of the money, while the city schools would get a paltry 20 percent. We hope the commissioners aren’t serious about depriving all the county’s students of funding just because city schools would get a small portion of the funds. That doesn’t make any sense, assuming there’s a legitimate need for the money.
And really, that’s the big question. Do the county schools actually need the money, or will it simply be subsidizing an inefficient bureaucracy?
The time has come for the county commissioners to get all the information they need and then make their decision quickly.
It won’t be easy, and a lot of people won’t be happy with it. But we elect leaders to solve problems exactly like this.
That’s their job, and it’s time for them to do it.
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