A school funding proposal was made at the BOC (Board of Commissioners) special meeting tonight (12.19.18) at City Hall with a surprise financial bonus suggested by the school superintendent.
The Mayor and BOC members listened to Vice Mayor Josh Roman read a prepared statement, outlining steps the BOC, Lakeland School Board (LSB) and City staff could take toward building a Lakeland high school sooner than later.
Currently Lakeland serves students in PK-4th grade at Lakeland Elementary School (LES). Students in grades 5-8 attend Lakeland Middle Preparatory School (LMPS). High school students attend Arlington High School via an interlocal agreement between the two cities until a high school is built in Lakeland.
Link to tonight’s agenda: https://tn-lakeland.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/805
See the statement, below:
Basically the idea would be to forego starting a Lakeland fire department and divert that money ($1,491.373) to pay off two debt obligations and utilize the payments towards a new 30-year bond to fund the new high school, said Vice Mayor Roman.
- The Shelby County Schools (SCS) obligation of $440,000 with a payment of $56,000. This was for the transfer of LES from SCS when municipal schools were formed.
- The 2004 Series TMBF (Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund), $1,053,095, which was used to build the Lakeland fire house on Beverle Rivera Drive with a payment of $211,531.
Vice Mayor Roman said, “This is almost the exact amount we were going to use to seed the Newly Formed and Created Fire Department and it frees up $268,000 of current debt payments that can be used towards the new 30-Year High School Bond. Our current Payment and the additional $268,000 gives us a new contribution of $2,481,150 leaving us about $450,000 short.”
The second suggestion by Vice Mayor Roman was to ask the LSB to contribute the shortage, and failing that, requesting the City make up the shortfall without affecting City services.
In a surprise statement, Dr. Ted Horrell, Lakeland School System (LSS) superintendent, suggested the LSB could consider paying the entire $687,000 difference for four years, about $3 million, from the LSS fund balance.
Dr. Horrell said he was suggesting the School Board contribute a higher amount for four years instead of a smaller number for the life of the loan. He said this idea stems from a shared vision that anticipates economic development for the City. He advised, however, this idea has not been discussed with LSB members.
He said he knows what is in the LSS fund balance now and it is north of $4 million. This would keep the City from reducing services for four years, he said, giving them time for increases in property and sales taxes.
Dr. Horrell noted it would be nine years after a high school was first brought up that the City would start taking on debt obligation.
The school funding discussion brought a number of speakers to the podium, both for and against the idea:
- Jeremy Burnett urged the Commissioners to consider Vice Mayor Roman’s proposal.
- Amy Foster asked the Commission the best way to communicate with them.
- Tim Roberts said he wanted to make the school system whole.
- Tia Bryan asked what if there is a need for another elementary school and can taxpayers vote.
- Lou Melton asked a variety of questions including the amount of the loan, interest rate, terms, tax increase and would there be a right to vote.
- Ken Glatzer indicated support for building the school now and suggested a part-time communications director for the City.
- Stephanie Lefler addressed the costs of starting a fire department and needing to build additional stations as Lakeland grows.
Link to Google album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1io1wbFVxeDaCKB69
Commissioners voiced their opinions about the funding idea with the expected three to two split among members. Vice Mayor Roman and Commissioners Michele Dial and Wesley Wright expressed their support for the suggestion to build the high school sooner rather than later.
Mayor Mike Cunningham and Commissioner Richard Gonzales both said they believe Lakeland needs a high school but only when it is affordable.
Commissioner Gonzales said Arlington Community Schools can sue Lakeland for bailing out of the interlocal.
Dr. Horrell said there is no language for a penalty to LSS to build a high school.
Mayor Cunningham said the City needs to heal and open discussions is huge to healing. He said he never once said he was against a high school. He noted there are passions on both sides. He said he is absolutely for a high school, just not tomorrow.
He then shared figures showing the City is millions in debt including LMPS, sewer, I-40 and the proposed fire station. Added to those debts would be loans for the match to build New Canada Road. He asked what is in the best interest of the children. This is not the right time, he said, adding he is looking at the City holistically.
Vice Mayor Roman said he would bring a financing document to the next BOC meeting.
Resolutions on the agenda:
The audit report for Fiscal Year ending June 18 was approved. Clark Province and Trey Watkins with Watkins Uiberall presented the report, noting a clear opinion. See slides below:
A BOC liaison appointment to the Municipal Planning Commission was deferred for further study.
The third resolution dealing with New Canada Road was approved.
The 2019 meeting calendar was amended and then approved. Three months will only have one BOC meeting:
Jan. 10th, March 7th and Oct. 3rd.
The final discussion item was an ethics officer position for Lakeland, sponsored by Mayor Cunningham. He said a citizen suggested the position and he thought it would hold all accountable and improve public relations and public perception.
Commissioner Gonzales said Memphis has an ethics officer and it would go a long way to helping in Lakeland.
Vice Mayor Roman said he didn’t dislike the idea but noted several statements were made during the meeting which might be a breach of ethics. He said Chris Patterson, the City attorney, has been the ethics officer and felt he was doing a good job.
Commissioner Wright said he thought a communications person could alleviate a lot of mistrust, perhaps with a basic monthly newsletter to citizens.
Commissioner Dial thought the communications person would be a wonderful addition and was concerned the ethics officer might be a slippery slope. She said such a position might give the impression of impropriety.
Link to Livestream: https://livestream.com/lakeland/events/8498375
… Photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents
