Wilson County Voters Divided On Raising Sales Tax For More Schools — Even Among Educators

Wilson County leaders are hoping voters will approve a proposed sales tax hike of half a cent. The additional money earned would go towards building more schools in one of Middle Tennessee’s fastest-growing areas.

But even educators who voted early in Lebanon were divided on the increase.

Ranesa Shipman, assistant principal of Wilson Central High, says she sees a definite need for more schools in the county. She voted for the tax hike because she thinks it would benefit students and educators by creating “an opportunity for our young people to receive a better education, because we’ll have more schools and more qualified teachers within our districts.”

Other Tennessee counties have implemented sales tax increases to fund schools, including Williamson earlier this year.

But Marianne Hughes isn’t on board with the proposal. The retired fourth-grade teacher moved to the area 11 years ago, she says, because it was much cheaper than her hometown of Chicago — where she was also opposed to similar increases, especially once her kids were out of school.

“I think it should go through the schools,” says Hughes, “with the parents that do have children there. It just makes more sense.”

If the referendum is approved, it would raise Wilson’s combined sales tax to 9.75 percent, the state limit. It would also bring the county on par with some of its neighbors, including Rutherford and Smith counties.