Nashville school board may ask voters to approve tax hike for more funding

Nashville school board members may ask voters to raise the property tax rate by 16 cents to generate more funding for schools, bypassing the city council and mayor. 

If the increase is approved, the board says it would make up the $48.5 million difference from the funding allocation from the Metro Council for next school year. School board members discussed the idea at a Friday retreat.

The school board requested a $76.7 million budget increase to largely fund 10% raises and step increases for teachers and other school employees.

"The council did its best to try to get those additional funds," board chair Sharon Gentry said. "We are going to hold true to our priorities and take this route to see if we can get the funds we need."

A proposal to raise property taxes by 15.8%, led by council budget and finance chair Tanaka Vercher, that would have sent $50 million to district schools failed by one vote before the Metro Council on Tuesday.

Instead, the council approved Mayor David Briley's budget, which sends $28.2 million more to Metro Nashville Public Schools for a potential 3% employee raise. That fell well short of what the school board had requested.

The possible referendum for school funding is unprecedented and challenges Briley's fiscal decisions for the city. The board could decide to bring forward a motion on Tuesday when it discusses the final budget approved by Metro Council this week.

Briley declined to comment on the possible referendum.

Many board members say the funding from the city isn't enough.

Through a provision in the Metro Charter, the board can vote through a two-thirds majority to declare the funds allocated to the district next year are "insufficient and inadequate" to meet the needs of Nashville public education. 

The vote would allow the board, through another two-thirds vote, to place a referendum on the Aug. 1 ballot, according to the charter.

The board is seeking clarity from staff members on the process to get a referendum on the August ballot, but according to the charter, a vote on such a measure must take place before July 1.

Still, there are questions over whether the board will be allowed to place a referendum on the ballot. Board member Will Pinkston said the board will need to check on the feasibility of getting it before voters.

If a referendum is possible, Vercher said it would truly put the decision to fund schools before taxpayers. Many council members and Briley argued before the council vote about a lack of public input into the decision.

"This wouldn’t be the first time where a body went outside of the council. We have seen successful measures with the Community Oversight Board where the general public felt the government wasn't listening and the government failed them," Vercher said.

She added: "Putting a referendum on the ballot is indeed public input."

The board would also have to set a dollar amount for the referendum, although Gentry is adamant the board should ask for the difference in what it requested from the council. Gentry said the $48.5 million difference is a documented need for the district.

Gentry said the board could vote on a decision as soon as Thursday if the referendum is feasible.

Board member Jill Speering said during the retreat that 16 cents is a reasonable ask of taxpayers. 

For an owner of a home appraised at the value of $250,000, they would then pay about $100 more per year in property taxes if a 5.1% increase is approved. 

The idea from the board to exercise its power to place a referendum on the August ballot comes after a school year in which teachers protested wages as the cost of living in the city has increased. Teachers regularly held "sickouts" and marches.

Michele Sheriff, incoming Metro Nashville Education Association vice president,  said she doesn't know if the referendum is the best option, but the council has for two years shown what is important.

"We can fund NFL, we can fund baseball, we can fund hockey, we can fund soccer," Sheriff said. "I do not know why we can't fund the children who live in our city."

On Thursday, incoming MNEA President Amanda Kail, who is a member of Nashville Red4Ed, issued an open letter to the school board calling for it to ensure teachers get a 3% raise.

Under the $28.2 million allocated by Metro for next school year, the district is proposing to fund the 3% raises.

After cutting several contracts and cost savings, the district also would have about $1.7 million for textbooks and $462,000 for social and emotional learning services for students.

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Reach Jason Gonzales at jagonzales@tennessean.com and on Twitter @ByJasonGonzales.