The Rome City Commission will hold its third and final public hearing tonight on a proposed tax hike aimed primarily at shoring up the city school system’s budget.

The increase to 26.15 mills from 24.42 mills would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 approximately $67 more a year.

Two earlier hearings drew heated opposition, mainly from city business owners who live in the unincorporated area, and calls to consolidate the city and county school systems are growing louder.

With only one high school, “Rome is not really a school system,” Jimmy Smith told the board last week, and “the feds and the state are going to keep cutting” their allocations so downsizing is warranted.

Four years ago an outside consultant said a merger could save the two school systems $1 million a year — but he recommended against it because the community was overwhelmingly opposed.

Still, S. John Davis recommended a number of areas where cooperation could cut costs in his February 2006 “A Study to Explore the Feasibility of Merger/Consolidation of the Rome City and Floyd County Public Schools.”

Rome Schools Superintendent Gayland Cooper said the systems now share some purchasing and work together on bus driver training and special education programs.

“We learned a lot from the consolidation study, but what’s interesting is that it’s not about the money,” he said. “It’s about sentiment. People in the county and city did not want their schools closed.”

Three dozen or so protesters who attended the last hearing contend times have changed, but the lone supporter present said he’s convinced local anti-tax anger is misplaced.

Research showed him that the Rome Board of Education has cut 37 positions along with teacher salaries, Jim Greer said, and

there has been a 25 percent reduction in the central office staff.

“There is not a ‘liberal agenda’ in the city and county commissions and school boards. And, unlike the federal government, they can’t deficit-spend,” Greer said. “I respect the Tea Party people here, but the school board’s done a conservative job balancing their budget.”

The City Commission caucuses at 5 p.m. and starts its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, 601 Broad St. Both sessions are open to the public, although comments are accepted only during the formal meeting.  

For the full agenda, click here.