Chambers County Commission rejects high school funding agreement in tie vote
BY SAM VISE
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
CHAMBERS COUNTY — A bid by the Chambers County Board of Education to secure up to $1.5 million in annual county funding to finance a new consolidated high school failed after the Chambers County Commission deadlocked in a 3-3 tie at its meeting on Aug. 24.
Commissioners Charlie Williams (District 1), Commission Chairman Douglas Jones (District 2) and James Williams (District 3) voted against the measure, while Sam Bradford (District 4), David Eastridge (District 5) and Debra Riley (District 6) voted in favor.
The proposed agreement followed the commission’s February 2026 decision extending the countywide educational sales tax through 2055.
Under the resolution presented Monday by County Attorney Skip McCoy, the county would have committed up to $1.5 million annually, subject to several conditions: the school board maintaining at least $2.7 million in debt reserves [with plans to add $1 million], submitting ongoing quarterly and annual financial statements 20 days prior to due dates, the city of Valley contributing $1.5 million under its separate agreement and an annual affirmative renewal vote by at least four commissioners each October.
The agreement also contained automatic termination clauses if Valley moved to form an independent school system or if an ad valorem tax offset the funding.
The item generated intense debate across the bench.
“I can proudly say I’m a graduate of the Chambers County school system,” said Commissioner James Williams. “Yes, I agree. We need a new high school in this county, and like I’ve said from the start, it doesn’t need to be in Valley. Bless everybody’s heart that’s fighting for this thing — [it’s] been kicked down the road for 50 years by every superintendent since then. What’s the difference in a student in Valley having to travel to LaFayette as a youngin that lives at Trammel Crossroads over beyond the river having to travel to Valley to go to high school? It’s not fair.”
Commissioner Charlie Williams raised concerns regarding planning and escalating commitments, stating the issue “wasn’t handled correctly from the start.”
“I’m just very disappointed with the school board because there wasn’t any planning, [they] didn’t start with the end in mind,” he said.
Commissioner David Eastridge expressed personal frustration over decades of school infrastructure delays.
“I blame all the superintendents,” he said. “They knew this was on the table. Why hasn’t something been done or been prepared for?”
Calling it “one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make,” Eastridge ultimately voted yes solely due to the annual renewal requirement.
“The only reason I’ll vote yes is just because it’s a one-year period,” he said. “Hopefully, the following commission will have the opportunity to vote it down.”
Chairman Douglas Jones noted “there’s going to be a fallout either way it goes” and urged the body to weigh the county’s other pressing capital needs.
“I love these kids... I graduated from the LaFayette High School in 1983. I’m still over there trying to work and do stuff because I love the kids,” Jones said. “I only ask you this: Is it good business practice?”
Commissioner Debra Riley pushed back against the resistance, defending the city of Valley’s role and warning of long-term consequences.
“I just want you to remember in a few years when you realize the consequences if this fails,” Riley said. “I just want you to remember the city of Valley did not take it away from your children. My husband [Leonard Riley] did not take it away from your children. The vote of this commission took it away from your children.”
Without a majority vote, the resolution failed to pass.
In other business:
Commissioner James Williams recognized the nation’s 250th anniversary, presenting county-purchased challenge coins to county staff in attendance, followed by an elm tree, known as the “Liberty Tree,” dedication at the county rodeo arena funded by grant money.
Commissioner James Williams addressed ongoing garbage collection lapses, urging residents who experience missed pickups to contact their district commissioner directly rather than waiting on company helplines.
The commission approved an agreement with the Lee County Youth Development Center for 2026-27 juvenile beds in the amount of $126,000 — a 30.38% increase from last year — as well as the FY27 Long-Term Detention Subsidy contract.
The commission reappointed Jerome Bailey to the Chambers County DHR Board for a six-year term ending June 18, 2032, and reappointed County Attorney Skip McCoy to the Chambers County Recreational Board for a five-year term ending July 21, 2031.
The commission adopted the updated 2025-2030 Division D Regional Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan and approved an Emergency Management Performance Grant cooperative agreement totaling $40,795 presented by EMA director Kathy Hornsby.
The commission established county license levies for four new state alcohol license types: $1,000 for small craft distilleries, $1,000 for small craft wineries, $2,000 for hybrid craft alcohol beverage complexes and $150 for tasting room extensions.
County Engineer Josh Harvill outlined the summer paving schedule, noting work on County Roads 114, 266 and 9; continued in-house reconstruction on County Road 62; and an upcoming safety grant widening project on County Road 83 totaling close to $430,000 (90% federal, 10% local).
The Rules, Ways and Means Committee will meet on Monday, Sept. 14, at 2 p.m. CT in the commission office conference room, ahead of the next regular commission meeting at 4 p.m. in the small courtroom.
