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M 112
Commissioner Madison inquired if they were in favor of increasing
taxes by having a new house tax. Godfrey Williams said he would
argue that a consumption tax is more fair than a property tax.
Jeff Tucker said he thought the property owners get the brunt
of all the taxes. He thought there should be some sort of a
consumption tax.
Commissioner Madison said he thought people were talking about
cutting government back last November 8th when they went to the
polls. He thought that's what we need to look at. He thought the
system could become more efficient. Private schools can educate a
child for $2,000 a year and it costs $4500 a year to educate a
child in public schools, and still not having enough. He thinks
they might need some competition in the schools. If there were
some alternatives, they might operate the system at a lower cost.
Godfrey Williams said they could argue philosophical issues on
and on, but he was concerned about some of the things on the list
that are needed. He thinks there has been more accomplished in the
last three years than there has been in the last twenty years.
Commissioner Boone said the percentage of property tax spent
on schools for Iredell County is 12 in the state. Jane Laney said
the bad thing about it is there was not much money spent on the
buildings prior to the last two or three years.
Commissioner Madison said he thought the $1.5 million for
maintenance allocated each year is the best thing that has been
initiated in the past several years.
Commissioner Madison questioned the maintenance at the
schools. He gave some reports he had received and said they had
not been positive.
Chairman Long responded that he thought they had some
problems, but they were working on them.
Commissioner Boone said he had heard a lot of complaints about
Service Master. Commissioner Johnson said he had received
complaints as well. one was that Iredell County's equipment was
suffering from neglect because Service Master is keeping up their
own equipment. Dr. Nantz said there is no "ours and theirs"
equipment.
Dr. Register said they basically went to Service Master
because they thought this would be a better way to do the
maintenance. He said he realized it is going to take some time to
get into place. They are dealing with a lot of catch-up. He said
they were holding Service Master accountable for their productivity
and asked the county commissioners to be patient while they tried
to work out this service arrangement. It takes some time to get a
system like this in place.
Skip McCall said they have made considerable progress. He was
sure there is going to be complaints. Commissioner Boone said he
hears complaints and hears more now about the schools than he did
a year ago.
Commissioner Johnson inquired whose equipment is used in
maintenance. Dr. Nantz said Service Management provides no
equipment. The equipment belongs to the County or individual men
use their small hand tools they provide themselves. Service Master
provides custodial equipment for the individual schools. The
county has no custodial equipment. In the maintenance department,
there is one person who coordinates the maintenance, does the
planning for day-to-day.
Commissioner Johnson asked if they leave the County, what
would they take with them. Dr. Nantz said they have not acquired