Schools will remain closed in Cumberland County in spite of a lengthy meeting between the Cumberland County Board of Education and the county’s budget committee Tuesday evening.
After meeting with the Cumberland County Director of Schools, Aarona VanWinkle, for more than three hours in a standing-room-only capacity crowd at the courthouse, the Cumberland County Budget Committee adjourned its meeting without taking any action after hours of negotiating. The lack of action caused much frustration among the crowd.
“Please give me a dollar figure to go back to the Board of Education with. I have to get these kids back in school,” VanWinkle said.
Several property tax increase scenarios were discussed and offered, however none of them passed the committee and were strong enough to offer the BOE the confidence to open schools for the 2008-’09 school year.
In order to cover the $5 million shortfall the BOE maintains it has, the county commission determined it would take approximately a 38-cent property tax-increase. The BOE has offered to put $2 million of its fund balance into the budget leaving a $3 million shortfall that would require a 25-cent property tax increase.
Motions were made to raise the property tax rate by 18-cents, 12-cents and 25-cents and all of them failed.
For a complete story from the meeting please see Friday’s Crossville Chronicle.
Area News
Schools remain closed; no action taken at budget meeting
- Area News
-
-
Meth lab seized from motel room
A Cumberland County couple have been charged in connection with the seizure of items commonly associated with the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine that were seized from a local motel room Friday.
-
No suspects known in stabbing
Crossville Police say they have little to go on after a Cumberland County man was found in the parking lot of a local nightspot suffering from a stab wound and injuries received in a fight.
-
Lyon, Smith earn top honors at SMHS
Katherine Lyon has earned valedictorian honors at Stone Memorial High School in the Class of 2012, while Anna Smith is the salutatorian.
-
TVA burglary draws 8-year sentence on plea
A Cumberland County man observed by a Tennessee Valley Authority employee driving the employee's service vehicle out of a secured lot has pleaded guilty to two of the several charges he was facing and has been sentenced to eight years in prison.
-
Go Red encourages proper diet to fight heart disease
Heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, but the American Heart Association estimates 80 percent of cardiac events in women could be prevented if women made the right choices in diet, exercise and not smoking.
-
DCS commissioner defends decision on closing Taft
Department of Children's Services Commissioner Kathryn O'Day on Wednesday defended Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's decision to close the Taft Youth Development Center in Bledsoe County.
-
Water service restored to Renegade
Water service was restored to 86 residences on Renegade Mountain Monday afternoon after it had been turned off for several days following a fee dispute between the Renegade Community Club and the Laurel Hills Condominiums Property Owners Association.
-
CCHS names Top Ten for Class of 2012
Abigayle Marie Claflin has earned the top spot in the Cumberland County High School Class of 2012, followed by Taylor Nicole Vaden as the class salutatorian.
-
Health reform law saves $2.1 billion for 3.6 million Americans with Medicare
Nearly 3.6 million people with Medicare saved $2.1 billion on their prescription drugs in 2011 thanks to the Affordable Care Act according to data issued today by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Savings for people with Medicare will increase over time.
-
BOE ready to present vision to community
After months of work, the Cumberland County Board of Education approved a revised mission statement, belief statements and vision statements in January and is ready to start presenting the document to the community.
- More Area News Headlines
-
Meth lab seized from motel room





