Could commission’s Kumbaya connections be a precursor to a tax increase?

We are all concerned about public education and our schools in Hamilton County. Understandably so, considering some of our test scores and our painful recent history.

Those test scores — as Hamilton County Commissioner Warren Mackey noted Wednesday morning at the commission’s weekly meeting — are especially bad for nine schools in the system that rank among the worst in the state.

It prompted Mackey to reiterate the need for an open conversation about fixing the worst of our schools. No arguments there.

That was followed by Commissioner Tim Boyd railing on the state of literacy among students struggling the most. Again, no arguments about the need for improving literacy, especially from Mackey, who threw out an “Amen” or two during Boyd’s soliloquy.

Next up was new Commissioner Katherlyn Geter, who went a step further in linking overall family needs to the struggles of low-scoring schools. Again, not new ground.

Side note: For those of us wanting someone to break new ground, we’d love to hear one of our leaders raise the issue of how the district will help push good students to great and the great students to elite. We all appreciate the challenges schools face with their high-needs students, and we understand the importance of trying to give those schools and students the best chance to succeed. But doing everything possible to make sure those kids have the best chance should not preclude thinking of ways to make sure the best students improve, too. Should it?

As for the commissioners Wednesday, the posturing continued. New Commissioner Chip Baker (and former board of education member) weighed in, praising superintendent Bryan Johnson and the 30-page Future Ready 2023 report. Chairman Sabrena Smedley also offered praise, saying how great the new feeling of cooperation between school system and commission is and how that can help the future.

Well, call me a cynic (I’ve been called worse). Or call me a bit jaded (Again, been called worse).

But as the mic was being passed and the praise parceled, a thought that won’t please a lot of you bubbled up.

This is a perfect time for the powers that be to lay the groundwork for a tax increase of some kind next year.

Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger notes that the county ranks fourth in per-student funding in the state. About 60 percent of the county’s $700 million annual budget goes to schools. And commissioners funded $125 million for school capital projects across the county with some millage rate massaging.

The seeds of shared support for our public schools were publicly planted Wednesday morning. For those of you who have attended county commission meetings — and unless you are required by your job or medical order to do so, then we doubt you have — that universal back-slapping that was clear has been as common as pro-Cosby T-shirts and New Coke fans. All of the county commissioners were just elected to four-year terms. If you are going to be open to a tax increase, it certainly could come in the first year of your term. You then would have three years to convince the elderly and the tax-haters in your district that you are truly fiscally frugal.

Now consider the political influence from groups such as UnifiED, the local education advocacy organization. It tried to endorse and then contributed to several local campaigns, including thousands in money or in-kind donations to Geter and newcomer David Sharpe on their way to toppling Greg Beck and Joe Graham, respectively.

Judging by the conversations and the political climate, here’s betting in a few months the whispers of a tax increase for schools (and general county operations) could become loud.

Keep your ears open, your wallets close and stay tuned, friends.