The proposal for building a new Smithville Elementary School has been on the minds of local officials for several years now, but how to fund such a project has seemingly been a major obstacle. With county officials grappling with how to fund a proposed judicial center or jail, property owners are already bracing for a property tax increase. In order to keep from hitting residents again with a property tax hike, officials say they need to extend an agreement with area towns so they can plan for future school expansion.

In an agreement with the City of Smithville, as well as the towns of Liberty, Dowelltown, and Alexandria, the towns have turned over greater share of its local option sales tax collections to the county’s education local purpose tax fund. The agreement has been in place since 1968, and was set up to help pay for school building construction/debt service obligations and yearly school operation. The municipalities were already legally obligated to turn 50 percent of their local option sales tax for schools, but under the local agreement, they have been contributing 66 and 2/3 percent.

The last time the agreement was extended was in 2007, for 30 years, with it due to expire in 2037, just 13 years. The county is asking the towns to extend the agreement by another 30 years, or until 2067. Without at least a 30-year plan the county would find it hard to secure bonds for a building project without raising the property tax, or to support debt service obligations for such school projects.

The county contributes $1,540,000 annually from the local purpose fund for general purpose school operation, which could make renewal of the sales tax agreement even more important. Under maintenance of effort, schools have to be funded by the county, at least with the same amount of local dollars from the previous year.

At the County Commission’s regular monthly meeting, held last Thursday due to Monday being a holiday, the commission, upon the recommendation of the government services committee, asked to prepare a resolution to be adopted next month seeking an extension of the agreement with the four cities which will then be presented to their mayors and boards of aldermen for passage.

Also at the meeting, County Mayor Matt Adcock asked that Brian Reed succeed James Goff as the Solid Waste Director, after Goff’s resignation. The commission confirmed the appointment.

Mayor Adcock said Reed previously served as general manager for the Southern Central operation and more recently has worked for the Capital Waste company, with a degree in business administration, and a commercial driver license.

The commission also adopted a salary exempt policy, upon the recommendation of the government services committee, which provides that salaried county department heads are not to accrue overtime pay.

DeKalb County Equalization Board members were reappointed including Mitchell Bowman, Jimmy Midgett, Doyle Evans, Joel Hooker and Jimmy Goad. Tim Bradford will be an alternate.

The commission also adopted a resolution, upon the recommendation of the government services committee, establishing a new DeKalb County Beer Board to be made up of five county commissioners.

Mayor Adcock will appoint five county commissioners including a chairman, vice chairman and secretary to serve on the beer board in September each year with confirmation by the county commission. The terms are for one year. The members will be up for reappointment each September.