Sevier County School System Gets $1.8M Increase in State Education Funding

The Sevier County School System will receive $1,840,000 in additional funds from state education funding for the upcoming fiscal year.

Sevier County School Superintendent Jack Parton and Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters, along with their staffs, have been working with Governor Bill Haslam’s administration to help increase state funding levels to Sevier County.

“We appreciate Governor Haslam recognizing the unique situation in Sevier County,” said Superintendent Parton. “These additional funds are certainly needed and will be put to good use.”

Sevier County had already been designated to receive $1,308,000 from the state’s Basic Education Program for the 2016-17 fiscal year. As part of the equalization formula used by the BEP to determine the state and local share for each school system, property values and sales tax are taken into consideration. The BEP formula was changed in 2007 and due to Sevier County’s tourist-driven economy, the school system has received millions less since then.

“While this doesn’t correct all Sevier County’s issues with education funding, it certainly helps to mitigate the issues created by the BEP formula change in 2007,” said Mayor Waters. “Thanks to Rep. Carr, Rep. Farmer, Sen. Overbey and Sen. Southerland for their assistance in getting Sevier County this much needed funding.”

Parton and Waters said they will continue to work with the state to make sure that education monies are fairly distributed to school systems.