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The Blount County Commission on Thursday approved a $12.8 million appropriation request to build, furnish and equip the proposed Prospect Elementary School on Burnett Station Road.

The commission voted 17-2 to approve the appropriation. Commissioners Tonya Burchfield and Brad Harrison voted no.

Commissioners asked if building the school would require a tax increase.

“To build the school -- no,” County Finance Director Dave Bennett said. “When it comes to operating the school, that is going to be a decision that is going to have be made in the 2011-12 budget year.”

The money will come from either a 20-year general obligation bond or through a low- or no-interest loan program being offered by the Tennessee State School Bond Authority (TSSBA).

It will cost about $1.1 million to staff and open the school in fall 2011.

The commission approved a resolution authorizing the Budget Committee (Commissioners Mike Lewis, Steve Samples, Ken Melton and John Keeble) to hire an independent expert to review Blount County’s outstanding debt. They agreed to bring the choices to the commission for approval.

The commission voted 17-2 to approve the resolution. Commissioners Gary Farmer and Reeves voted no. Reeves had made a motion to table the resolution until goals for the auditor were established, but it failed without a second.

Linda King, president of Citizens for Blount County’s Future, expressed concerns: “This independent auditor is going to be chosen by four people, and the budget committee is appointed by the (county) mayor’s office. I think it should be by the full commission.”