Fairhope, Alabama. (fairhopetimes@att.net)
RENEWALS APPROVED HERE; BUT FAIL COUNTY-WIDE TOO
Fairhope-area voters rejected new 3 and 5 mil property tax hikes; but approved renewing existing 1 and 3 mils ones (totaling 7 mils); but the rest of the county did not.
(The renewal of one of the 3 mil taxes failed county-wide by just over 200 votes; outcome could conceivably change when all provisional ballots are counted, but not likely.)
Voter-turnout was about 38% here.
(The existing taxes will not expire until next year, though; leaving the door open for new proposals/referendums before then. The state legislature is now considering tax increases that may provide more local school funding as well.)
Announced School Board plans linked to this referendum's approval to renovate/re-open the K-1 and construct a new buiding behind it -- and add wings to Fairhope High and Middle Schools are now off the table, presumably.
Several meetings are scheduled for today at city and county levels to plan next steps.
(According to previous media reports, since 10 mils are the minimum required by state law, the county commission may have to act to renew/institute at least that much (5 mils?); but all of that would go to the state's controversial "equity funding" program.)
In the past, the school superintendent has mentioned consolidating classes at the Elementary and Intermediate levels (to relieves E.S. over-crowding) -- and more portable classrooms as possible alternatives to new construction here; some vacant classrooms at the old Elementary building on Bishop Rd. could be put to use as well.
Selling some school property such as the now-demolished alternative school on Twin Beech Rd. or even the K-1 site has been discussed as well.
The old K-1 building itself is unsuitable for any school-related activities without expensive renovations; but modifying it to be a performing arts center was seriously considered at one time.
Fairhope city council members had been discussing some other options for the school district early last year; but were asked to suspend until after this referendum -- click.
The council has budgeted $350,000 from city coffers (utility funds) to supplement school academics this year; plus about $600,000 for various "in kind" school sports-related activities.
City utility rates for schools are considerably reduced as well.
FAIRHOPE VOTE TOTALS
EXISTING TAX RENEWALS
Renewal: County-wide 1 mil for against
0039 FAIRHOPE CIVIC CTR 2543 1436
0040 PT CLEAR ST FRANCIS 317 241
0041 FAIRHOPE - 3 CIRCLE CHURCH 1625 1134
Renewal: county-wide 3 mils
0039 FAIRHOPE CIVIC CTR 2482 1493
0040 PT CLEAR ST FRANCIS 303 253
0041 FAIRHOPE - 3 CIRCLE CHURCH 1566 1191
Renewal: District Two 3 mils
0039 FAIRHOPE CIVIC CTR 2427 1550
0040 PT CLEAR ST FRANCIS 289 263
0041 FAIRHOPE - 3 CIRCLE CHURCH 1519 1229
NEW TAX PROPOSALS
New: 5 mils
0039 FAIRHOPE CIVIC CTR 1708 2250
0040 PT CLEAR ST FRANCIS 199 350
0041 FAIRHOPE - 3 CIRCLE CHURCH 952 1802
New: 3 mils
0039 FAIRHOPE CIVIC CTR 1735 2239
0040 PT CLEAR ST FRANCIS 208 345
0041 FAIRHOPE - 3 CIRCLE CHURCH 980 1777
K-1's future still in doubt? |
Fairhope-area voters rejected new 3 and 5 mil property tax hikes; but approved renewing existing 1 and 3 mils ones (totaling 7 mils); but the rest of the county did not.
(The renewal of one of the 3 mil taxes failed county-wide by just over 200 votes; outcome could conceivably change when all provisional ballots are counted, but not likely.)
Voter-turnout was about 38% here.
(The existing taxes will not expire until next year, though; leaving the door open for new proposals/referendums before then. The state legislature is now considering tax increases that may provide more local school funding as well.)
Announced School Board plans linked to this referendum's approval to renovate/re-open the K-1 and construct a new buiding behind it -- and add wings to Fairhope High and Middle Schools are now off the table, presumably.
Several meetings are scheduled for today at city and county levels to plan next steps.
(According to previous media reports, since 10 mils are the minimum required by state law, the county commission may have to act to renew/institute at least that much (5 mils?); but all of that would go to the state's controversial "equity funding" program.)
old elementary to re-open? |
Selling some school property such as the now-demolished alternative school on Twin Beech Rd. or even the K-1 site has been discussed as well.
Fairhope city council members had been discussing some other options for the school district early last year; but were asked to suspend until after this referendum -- click.
The council has budgeted $350,000 from city coffers (utility funds) to supplement school academics this year; plus about $600,000 for various "in kind" school sports-related activities.
City utility rates for schools are considerably reduced as well.
FAIRHOPE VOTE TOTALS
EXISTING TAX RENEWALS
Renewal: County-wide 1 mil for against
0039 FAIRHOPE CIVIC CTR 2543 1436
0040 PT CLEAR ST FRANCIS 317 241
0041 FAIRHOPE - 3 CIRCLE CHURCH 1625 1134
Renewal: county-wide 3 mils
0039 FAIRHOPE CIVIC CTR 2482 1493
0040 PT CLEAR ST FRANCIS 303 253
0041 FAIRHOPE - 3 CIRCLE CHURCH 1566 1191
Renewal: District Two 3 mils
0039 FAIRHOPE CIVIC CTR 2427 1550
0040 PT CLEAR ST FRANCIS 289 263
0041 FAIRHOPE - 3 CIRCLE CHURCH 1519 1229
NEW TAX PROPOSALS
New: 5 mils
0039 FAIRHOPE CIVIC CTR 1708 2250
0040 PT CLEAR ST FRANCIS 199 350
0041 FAIRHOPE - 3 CIRCLE CHURCH 952 1802
New: 3 mils
0039 FAIRHOPE CIVIC CTR 1735 2239
0040 PT CLEAR ST FRANCIS 208 345
0041 FAIRHOPE - 3 CIRCLE CHURCH 980 1777
Comments
The primary concern of state legislators is to get re-elected, not solve problems.
We rail against the evil Federal Government, but get $2 back for evey one we send to Washington for federal taxes.
Ending sweetheart deals like "current use" tax breaks promoted by special interests like ALFA and common sense measures like an education lottery would go a long way towards solving chronic school funding issues.