CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – A $25 increase to the county wheel tax was approved by the commission after a push from Mayor Jim Durrett caused a reconsideration of the issue.
The resolution initially failed with 10 yes’s, 8 no’s and 1 abstention; however, following the initial vote, Durrett moved to pull all resolutions related to the new Kirkwood School project on the grounds that no funding would be available.
“I am certainly not going to bring an item before this body that cannot be funded,” said Durrett. “Again, there is no reason to appropriate any architect fees for a school you have chosen not to build.”
Following this move from the mayor, Commissioner Jerry Allbert moved to reconsider the resolution. This time, the resolution passed with 14 yes’s and 5 no’s. Voting no were Commissioners Rickey Ray, Brandon Butts, Joshua Beal, Jason Knight and Garland Johnson.
Prior to the second vote, Commissioner Joe Smith urged his fellow commissioners to reconsider.
“The only harm we are doing is to the children that are in over capacity schools right now. I urge you to vote yes,” said Joe Smith. “I urge you, I plead with you. Please, think of the kids, and let’s get something done with our school system.”
The resolution received an amendment requiring that all revenue generated by the increased wheel tax be required to be used by Clarksville-Montgomery County School System for school debt, new construction, etc., and cannot be used by the county for other purposes.
“I don’t think anybody wants to levy an additional tax on anybody, but if we are gonna pay for schools, that is the way we gotta pay for them,” said Mayor Durrett.
In 2017, Montgomery County raised the wheel tax by $18 to a total of $49, which is similar to a majority of Tennessee counties.
The proposed $25 increase would make the tax $74, placing Montgomery County in the top 10 in wheel tax costs in the state.
The resolution to increase the wheel tax requires two affirmative votes to pass and is expected to be part of the commission’s October agenda.
Correction: An earlier version of this story reported an incorrect final vote tally. It has since been corrected.