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Ringgold resident urges cuts to technology and warns property tax increases would be harmful
Summary
At the July 16 millage hearing Christie Bradley of Ringgold told the school board that a planned tax increase would be a hardship; she questioned spending on iPads and literacy programs and urged protecting teachers while cutting other areas.
At the July 16 public participation segment of Catoosa County's budget hearing, Christie Bradley of 115 Melody Lane in Ringgold urged the board to consider the effect of any tax increase on homeowners and questioned some district spending priorities.
"I'm paying more for taxes than insurance than I am on the principal of my home right now," Bradley said, describing property taxes as roughly 16% of her mortgage and saying any increase would be harmful after personal hardship. Bradley asked whether the district had explored cuts to technology purchases and suggested reassessing expenditures such as iPads.
Bradley also raised concerns about students' literacy skills and referenced the district's hiring of literacy coaches: "If we're having to being forced to have literacy coaches, that's an increase in the budget because we're not teaching children properly," she said. She acknowledged that teachers deserve pay and protection from cuts but asked the board to search for other areas to trim if additional revenue is needed.
The board chair thanked Bradley; no further public speakers signed up for that hearing.
