REFERENDUM EARLY VOTING

As Shelby County suburban voters head to the polls over the next week to decide whether to establish municipal school districts, some are concerned that the financial burden will put cities into debt.

Former Millington finance director James Knipple evaluated the long-term effects of running a school system based on numbers that consultants from Southern Educational Strategies used in a report for Millington from March 2012.

While the SES report said the school district would be financially feasible for one year, Knipple’s report determined how much a school district would cost over 10 years.

Based on his figures, Millington would be in the red by the second year. By the 10th year, he projects the city would have a $5.4 million deficit

“You don’t go into business based on figures for one year,” said Knipple “I’ll be the first to say I would love to have a great school system, but everybody needs to be aware of this other side, the financial side.”

Early voting wraps up July 11, and the official Election Day for all the suburbs is July 16.

According to Knipple’s report, in addition to using the local half-cent sales tax for schools, the amount of property taxes in Millington would have to increase by $3.40 over nine years.

“I’ve asked the people who support the school system to look at these figures and check my numbers,” Knipple said. “They’re so determined that they’re not looking at numbers.”

Similarly, former Lakeland Mayor Jim Bomprezzi said he would love for Lakeland to have its own school district, but the half-cent sales tax increase approved last August to support it won’t help the “bedroom community.”

“Other suburbs have the BARTLETT When: Begins Saturday through July 11; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Where: Bethel Church, 5586 Stage Road COLLIERVILLE When: Saturday through July 11; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Where: Collierville Church of Christ, 575 Shelton Road GERMANTOWN When: Saturday through July 11; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Where: New Bethel Baptist Church, 7786 Poplar Pike MILLINGTON When: Monday through July 11; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Where: Baker Community Center, 7942 Church St. SHELBY COUNTY When: Through July 11; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. MondaySaturday, closed today for July Fourth holiday Where: Shelby County Office Building, 157 Poplar Ave. retail businesses needed to make up the cost,” said Bomprezzi, who is running for mayor again.

In July 2012, Lakeland enacted the first property tax in its 35-year history to help fund its own schools. With only one elementary school in Lakeland, it’s possible students will attend school in Arlington and Bartlett until Lakeland can build its own schools, Bomprezzi said.

“It’s going to last until Arlington and Bartlett fill up,” he said. “Do you think they’re going to build a school just for Lakeland?”