CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The City of Clarksville’s effort to roll back part of the city’s decades-long sales tax commitment to the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System hit another hurdle Monday when the Finance Committee declined to advance the resolution.

Mayor Joe Pitts told the committee the resolution had been postponed twice to ensure the city was on “solid legal ground” before attempting to “opt out of the city giving the additional revenue to the school system” and for budget discussions. “This revenue was not counted in the current budget,” he said. “We felt like we would be doing a disservice to do that.”

He emphasized that the move should not be interpreted as a lack of support for local schools.

“I don’t want to let it be said that the city does not support our school system. I want to make that very clear — we do,” he said. “But as we all know, the city needs the revenue in order to support our operations which includes everything from crossing guards to school signals on the sidewalks that we’ve been installing.”

Ballot question raised, but measure stalls

Council members Keri Lovato, Carlos Peters, Stacey Streetman and Brian Zacharias were all present for the Finance Committee meeting.

Lovato asked whether the measure could be placed on the November ballot. An attorney with the city said the process would require an ordinance and certification, leaving too little time before the deadline unless the council held a special session.

“I do support taking this away and keeping it in the city,” Lovato said. “Our city needs these resources, especially for our public safety … We have no say at the table in how these funds are spent, but we’re giving more money.”

Lovato added that the constituents she has spoken with are “50-50” on the issue and that a referendum would be more appropriate.

When Chair Streetman called for a motion to approve the resolution, none was offered, and the measure failed for lack of a motion. Pitts said he still plans to bring the resolution to the Clarksville City Council.

Clarksville Now has reached out to Pitts for comment.

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