This article has been updated with additional information.

TCLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The City Council voted down a proposal to roll back more than $3.3 million in sales taxes for schools; however, it had been narrowly approved before one council member changed their vote at the last second.

Two amendments to the resolution were introduced Thursday night. Councilman Brian Zacharias proposed an amendment to continue funding the additional local option sales tax allocated to CMCSS, but the motion failed for lack of a second.

Councilman Jimmy Brown introduced his amendment for the city to recapture the $3.3-3.5 million, but implement it over a period of three years. Brown moved for something similar when the rollback proposal was before the council during their fiscal year budget process.

Brown’s amendment would begin in July 2027 and extend through June 2029. “Instead of this being a big hit at one time, this would spread it out over three years and give the school system and the county time to make adjustments,” Brown said.

‘We’ve already won the race to the bottom; there’s no reason to run up the score’

Zacharias said he’s disappointed in the proposed amendment and resolution. “I know the history of this allotment, it’s likely still in effect due to an oversight, I understand that. But the reality is there have been at least three attempts that I know of to end this,” he said.

“The most recent attempt to do this was last month, and it didn’t pass in a budget that we were cut so thin that we were considering laying off a city employee to save the average property owner in Clarksville $7 a year. I don’t think we should be considering any reduction in this allotment.”

Zacharias said Tennessee already ranks at the bottom of per student spending. “We’ve already won the race to the bottom; there’s no reason to run up the score at this point. I hope you consider the message we’re sending our teachers when we are targeting a sales taxes allotment that is specifically earmarked for their salaries.”

Council speaks on state budgeting $637 million per year in voucher programs

Councilman Tim Chandler said he’s all for supporting teachers and understands how much money teachers already spend out of their own pocket; however, last month, the City Council had a chance to lower the proposed property tax rate by $0.05 and ended up voting it down.

Chandler then questioned how much the State of Tennessee allocates in funding to public schools. “The great State of Tennessee now, per year, will be spending $637 million per year in voucher programs,” he said. “When you divide that among the 95 counties, that’s $6.7 million that could have gone to the school systems.

“When we live in a state, that will not give what is due to our school systems … $6.7 million that the state took away, that they never intended on putting into public education. I’m going to say it and don’t care; all they’re worried about is lining the pockets of some of their big donors.”

Chandler said his point is if the state can’t afford to give CMCSS the $6.7 million in funding, what makes everybody think the city can afford it. He said he did agree with Brown’s amendment to not recapture the local option sales tax all at once, rather over a period of several years.

Additional concerns, expectation for county to raise taxes in 2027

Councilwoman Stacey Streetman said she is in favor of the amendment as well, but she still has her concerns with the resolution itself.

“I really wish what we would have instead is where we could sit down with the city, CMCSS and the county,” Streetman said. “Workout something together that is going to be beneficial because for one, as was referenced by the councilperson from ward 12, I don’t want to see a lawsuit come our way over the money that is involved.”

She also referenced data she discovered that shows 77.5% of the number of students who attend city schools reside within city limits.

Councilman Carlos Peters said he has concerns that if the City Council were to rollback the $3.3 million in sales taxes for schools, the county wouldn’t just respond by increasing taxes themselves. “This two-government situation we’ve got here with the city and the county, it doesn’t work, we need to change our government” Peters said.

In his closing remarks, Brown said as Mayor Joe Pitts pointed out, the city still gives $70+ million a year to CMCSS. He also said he does expect the county to raise property taxes next year. “They already told me they were going to anyway,” Brown said. “I just ask for your support of spreading this out over several years.” Brown’s amendment was eventually approved 9-3.

Proposal to postpone resolution, place proposed sales tax increase on referendum.

Councilwoman Keri Lovato moved to postpone the resolution indefinitely and place a proposal on referendum to increase the city’s sales tax by a quarter. “It does remove the additional 20% given, but with raising the sales tax, it will give the school more money, so they would not be without, and it would also give the City of Clarksville more revenue as well.”

City Attorney Eric Bittner clarified that the referendum would have to either be placed on a special election ballot or placed on the 2028 general election ballot. He also provided detail about the expenses that come with a special election.

Streetman said she has concerns with placing the proposal on the ballot due to the difference in what’s being asked. Zacharias said he is all for the community making the decision on a referendum.

After some further discussion, Lovato’s motion was voted down 5-7.

Resolution fails after council member swaps vote

When the resolution as amended was voted on, the proposal was set to pass 7-5. Voting in favor were council members Eric Claunch, Tim Chandler, Ambar Marquis, Jerry Haywood, Brown, Joe Shakeenab, and Mayor Joe Pitts.

Voting against were Zacharias, Carlos Peters, Wanda Smith, Stacey Streetman and Lovato.

However, as Pitts asked if any member of the council wanted to change their vote, Claunch decided to vote against the resolution at the last second, which led to its downfall. Councilman Travis Holleman was absent.

This article will be updated with additional quotes.

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