County Commissioner Joe Graham said Wednesday he will not support a 40-cent property tax increase request from County School Supt. Rick Smith.
Commissioner Graham said the county schools are required to keep $10 million in savings, but currently have $49 million held back.
He said that surplus should be put to use for current school funding needs.
Supt. Smith recently strongly denied a Graham assertion that the county schools were "hoarding" money.
On the extensive county rainy day fund, Commissioner Graham said county government is "the bank" for numerous departments, including the schools.
He said the county schools had received over $100 million in additional funding since 2005, with little enrollment increase.
He also said the county had built over $600 million in new schools.
Commissioner Graham said he "possibly" could support a future tax hike, but he said he would like to see the county continue to operate on "growth" and avoid a tax increase.
Commissioner Greg Beck told of seeing falling plaster at one school, but he also said school officials had ignored his request on how a $2.3 million receipt was going to be sent. He said he was "not going to ask again."
Sandy Hughes, president of the Hamilton County Education, made a plea for more money for the schools.
She said 70 new foreign language teachers are needed, saying many new companies coming into town had foreign-speaking officials.
Ms. Hughes also said art teachers are needed, saying that is necessary for creative thinking.
She said the school is under increasing mandates, including a recent one to start teaching keyboarding in the third grade.