Coppinger, Littlefield show contrasts on sales tax

photo County Mayor Jim Coppinger, left, and Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield.

County Mayor Jim Coppinger told the audience at a Southeast Tennessee Political Action Committee luncheon that, if the county and the city would work together, they could find a way to renew their decades-old sales tax agreement.

The agreement, which shares revenue generated in the city with the county, is used to fund social service agencies like the public library.

Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield, who was in attendance, said the pact will expire in May, no matter how willing the city and county are to renew it. Littlefield also said he does not support temporarily extending the sales tax agreement for another year and said there aren't enough votes on the City Council to support it.

He said the more than two dozen agencies funded by the agreement should rest easy, however.

"They should be at ease," Littlefield said. "Their future is assured."

After the meeting Coppinger said he's not sure the agencies would receive full funding if the agreement lapses.

"These are things that are important," he said.

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