No Wheel Tax in DeKalb County Anytime Soon

DeKalb County will not be implementing a wheel tax anytime soon.
Although at least one county commissioner, Anita Puckett believes a wheel tax is needed to help secure funding for the future construction of a new elementary school, she has decided to delay asking for a vote on it until the Board of Education presents the commission with a building plan based on results of its own feasibility study.
Puckett addressed the issue during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the county commission. “I have spoken with (Director of Schools) Patrick Cripps Friday and today (Monday). They (school board) are actually meeting with the Upland Group Architectural firm and they are going to be getting them to do a more indepth feasibility study and with that study they will be able to tell us specifically what they desire and the cost on that. We’ll hold off on making any decisions about how to approve that revenue until we follow up with the board of education about what their desires are,” said Puckett.
Prior to the county commission meeting, the Board of Education Monday night adopted its tentative budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year which includes $20,000 for a school building feasibility study.
“We put in $20,000 for an architect to come in and do a study. It is my hope that with an architect study we will be able to get a break down of different school sizes (options) and what it would cost to build those schools,” Director Cripps told WJLE.
Puckett, who serves as a fifth district county commissioner and is also assistant Principal at Smithville Elementary School, first raised the issue during a county commission education committee meeting and then shared her suggestion with other members of the commission during an all committees workshop Thursday night at the courthouse.
The County Technical Advisory Service (CTAS) recently conducted a building feasibility study and concluded more classrooms are needed particularly at the lower elementary grade levels within the system.
Puckett said the county commission should adopt a wheel tax and earmark the funds for school infrastructure. The commission can take action on its own to implement a wheel tax but passage requires at least a two thirds vote (10 out of 14) in support on two separate readings at least a month apart. Residents opposed to a wheel tax could mount a petition drive between the first and second readings to force a public referendum on the question.
A proposed $50 wheel tax at the current car count in DeKalb County would raise approximately one million dollars a year.
“We’re in dire need of a new school. The need is pretty much pre-K through 8 but we can build any type of school in that range as far as the need. My point is whatever they (school board) chooses to build, we need to start looking at approving revenue to build a school. I mentioned to the education committee about a wheel tax. I know that is a sensitive subject but it is a very strong way of generating revenue to build schools. The average age of our schools is 41 years old. The newest building (Northside Elementary) is 17 years old. There is a need. It’s time to be building some schools. Its time to be moving forward,” said Puckett Thursday night.
The county commission took no action Monday night.