The Cherokee County Commission began their meeting on Monday afternoon with a moment of silence to honor Mrs. Doris Pearson who a longtime Library Board Member who recently passed away.

Superintendent of Education Mitchell Guice – addressed commission members during the Public Comment section of the meeting regarding the continuation of the one-cent sales tax – otherwise known as the “school tax”:

The Commission did not act upon – or comment on – Guice’s request during the meeting.

The proposal in a different form failed to make it out of the Senate to be placed on the 2014 June Primary Ballot.

The proposed agreement would have paid for a number of School Resource Officers off the top – with the remainder being split 60/40 between the school system and the general fund, essentially earmarked for the county detention center.

However – the County Commission can still give the citizen’s of the county the option of voting on the issue of keeping the tax – or letting it die – by placing the issue on the July Run-off Ballot provided that the tax, if passed, goes 100% to the school system.

Commission Chairman Kirk Day explains the situation during a recent Tea Party meeting where he and Senator Phil Williams were in attendance:

The tax currently generates approximately one-and-a-half million dollars each year for the school system.

In other business during their Monday meeting – the Commission granted a 5% promotional pay raise for Deputy Michael Green, at the request of Sheriff Jeff Shaver. Green has been promoted to Criminal Investigator and he handles the department’s drug dog.

A resolution authorizing, and approving, execution of a contract with Bancorpsouth Equipment Finance was also approved.

The next regular meeting of the Cherokee County Commission is slated for Monday May 12th at 10:00am in the Cherokee County Administration Building.