presstalk
865-671-TALK (8255) or editor@farragutpress.com
I was reading the farragutpress, the Pugh & Company audit of the Town of Farragut financial situation. They say that Farragut has $64.6 million of unrestricted net money with $34.5 million available at their discretion, for spending, and no debt. My big question is, why does Farragut not contribute more to the schools in Farragut? The primary, the elementary, the middle school, and the high school, Farragut contributes very, very little to the schools. All the pressure is on Knox County. Farragut has all the extra money, no debt. They need to contribute to the schools. That's the most important thing in our community is the young children, rather than buying land and building parks and building monuments for people, we need to support the schools more. We do not. Farragut does not contribute, but very, very little money to the school system. I know that through the Farragut Education Foundation, they contribute very, very little. Farragut needs to contribute more to schools. That's the most important asset we have is our young people, not building monuments to ourselves and parks and naming things after people and spending a lot of money. We need to support the schools more. That's an obvious point. I'm sure this will come up big time in the mayor's race coming up. We need to contribute more to schools. We have been negligent.
The financial situation with the Town of Farragut, another point that we need to make is the Farragut officials bought land at the end of McFee Road and paid over $5 million for land that they probably didn't need. And the renovation of the Campbell Station House, which is a good thing, but I believe the Town of Farragut spent over $5 million on that renovation total. Again, the mistake we're making in Farragut is we're not putting enough money in the education of our children. We give very, very, very little to the school system. Knox County has to support our schools. We need to put more money in the schools, not building monuments for ourselves and naming parks and building parks. That's all well and good, but what about the children? What are we doing for the children of Farragut and supporting them with money into the schools, the primary, the elementary, the middle, and the high school? What are we doing? Our priorities are wrong.
