News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Pickett County Director of Schools Diane Elder said she feels like Governor Bill Lee’s new school funding formula will be a loss for the county.
Elder said she believes there will not be enough funding for the school system, which could result in a property tax increase.
“We’ve not asked for that increase in 15 years, and I would really hate to do that to the people of Pickett County,” Elder said. “But, there may come a time that we do need to ask for a tax increase.”
The formula known as the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement sets a base funding rate of $6,860 per pupil. Additional funding will be awarded based on several factors.
One of those being a weight for rural school systems. Elder said for Pickett County, each student would receive an extra 5 percent of funding. Elder said she would like that number to be at least 10 percent, so the district could be fully funded.
