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As referenced
on the "About Me" page, when I have been given the opportunity to
serve others, I have taken those opportunities.
Beginning even in my high school days, I was able to
serve as President of numerous organizations at Lenoir City High
School. My desire to help those around me did not wane
as I moved on to college, where I found a place on the
University of Tennessee
Student Senate and the Adidas Partners in Sports Board
of Directors. Property Tax – I am adamantly opposed to any and all tax increases. In a time when all of Loudon County’s residents are feeling the strains of the current economic situation, I do not believe they need their government adding to these burdens. I believe that, with sound fiscal management and sustainable spending practices, the current revenue streams and funds available to Loudon County are sufficient to meet all reasonable budget needs. Schools – Given my stance on tax increases, many will ask how I propose to pay for the very much needed school improvements, especially in Greenback. In early 2007, the Loudon County and Lenoir City School Systems paid nearly $50,000 for a comprehensive and thorough report on the state of schools in the county. The report was produced by a joint venture of the Public Building Authority and the Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission. The report indicated that some $27,000,000 would be needed to build a new school in Greenback while another $15,000,000 spread across the other county schools would be needed to sustain their projected growth. In early 2009, the Board of Education made a request for funding to build a new Pre K-12 school in Greenback, a new middle school in Loudon, to combine the existing Ft. Loudon Elementary and Ft. Loudon Middle Schools into one elementary school, and to remodel the Philadelphia cafeteria. Accordingly, based on the budget passed in 2009, I have prepared a fiscally responsible school building funding proposal (see my school building funding proposal [insert hyperlink]) that I believe would ultimately satisfy the Phase I request of the Board of Education without requiring a tax increase. In the last five years, there have already been $0.39 in tax increases designated for the schools. All of these measures were promoted as being sufficient to meet the schools needs. I, for one, do not believe government should ask its citizens to pay for necessities through further increased taxes when continued responsible spending and use of current funds will be sufficient to meet our needs. I have, at every opportunity, opposed any attempts to raise property taxes or to impose any additional taxes on you. I have worked to implement the Senior Citizen Property Tax Freeze. Finally, I have worked and will continue to work to make sure that that business of the county is conducted in an open manner and that we remain responsive to the needs of our citizens. |
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Vote
for Austin Shaver 2nd District County Commissioner |
