Fairhope, Alabama
fairhopetimes@att.net
COUNTY TO PROPOSE NEW TAXES
According to information discussed at the last Education Advisory Committee meeting, Baldwin School Superintendent Alan Lee now opposes the effort to form a special school tax district in the Fairhope area -- because such an effort would hamper possible future county-wide tax increase proposals.
(Previous statements attributed to Lee had indicated support for the special district -- click.)
At a Dec. 4th meeting with city officials, Committee Charmain Bob Riggs said Lee indicated the School Board will likely ask voters to renew 7 mils of property tax that is scheduled to expire in 2016-17 -- and for an additional 8 mils for new school construction (5 schools, none in the Fairhope area).
Riggs: "They are projecting a need for another $150 - 200 million to fund that (new schools) ... source not currently available ... ."
"What the county is getting ready to propose is ... increasing ad valor em tax ... for bonds ... in order to build these buildings ... ."
Riggs said that currently 12 mils in property tax is earmarked for schools in Fairhope, 7 of which is about to expire in 2 years.
Riggs: "Something absolutely has got to be done about that ... ."
"Plus, we're talking about an additional 8 mils ... to build these new buildings ... ."
DR. LEE OPPOSES LOCAL EFFORT
Committee member Jim Kellen said that since Fairhope voters traditionally have supported county tax-increase referendums (68% for), Lee was concerned that Fairhope's efforts to raise taxes locally-only by 3 mils could dilute the county-wide proposals coming down the road.
Kellen: "He was concerned ... if you dilute that approval ... it would be more difficult to achieve ... in the broader system ... ."
"He was very concerned about the efforts we might be taking ... about the 3 mils."
Riggs: "Clearly the request was for us to back off ... ."
Committee member Diana Brewer said Lee wanted to know what the additional needs are in Fairhope currently.
Brewer: "If the county decides to ask for a referendum ... were there some needs the county could help meet ... in the interim?"
The possibility of having the county match the funds ($350K) that the city earmarks yearly for education was mentioned according to Brewer, but not for this year. (The city also spends about $750,000 annually to supplement sports-related school activities, according to mayor Kant.)
REFERENDUM COULD PROCEED ANYWAY
At the Dec. 4th meeting, Kellen said Mayor Kant indicated a willingness to negotiate with Lee, but wanted to know how it would specifically benefit Fairhope if the city does not proceed with its own referendum for the Fairhope feeder pattern.
(Later, Kant told the Times he thought it would be more equitable for city residents if the entire feeder pattern contributed more to schools (via a 3 mil referendum), not just in-city residents who have been supplementing schools with $350K for the past 3 years. If the 3 mil referendum passed, the $350K would cease.)
Riggs said the city clearly had the legal authority to proceed on its own: "The ... stars are aligned ... city officials are favorably disposed ... back away now ... may lose the opportunity ... never happen (again) ... ."
Kellen noted there is no guarantee the Fairhope area would ever see any of the proposed new county tax anyway, since no new schools will be needed here.
Mayor Kant and Council President Burrell told the Times recently that the issue is still being considered -- and the council could vote to hold a voter-referendum to form the new school district as early as this summer.
More meetings were to be scheduled to discuss the complex issues: one possibly on Jan 10th.
(They also said negotiations were still underway regarding the future of the K-1 school building on Church St. -- the city wants to lease it from the county and use it as a Performing Arts Center.)
COUNTY TO PROPOSE NEW TAXES
According to information discussed at the last Education Advisory Committee meeting, Baldwin School Superintendent Alan Lee now opposes the effort to form a special school tax district in the Fairhope area -- because such an effort would hamper possible future county-wide tax increase proposals.
(Previous statements attributed to Lee had indicated support for the special district -- click.)
At a Dec. 4th meeting with city officials, Committee Charmain Bob Riggs said Lee indicated the School Board will likely ask voters to renew 7 mils of property tax that is scheduled to expire in 2016-17 -- and for an additional 8 mils for new school construction (5 schools, none in the Fairhope area).
Riggs: "They are projecting a need for another $150 - 200 million to fund that (new schools) ... source not currently available ... ."
"What the county is getting ready to propose is ... increasing ad valor em tax ... for bonds ... in order to build these buildings ... ."
Riggs said that currently 12 mils in property tax is earmarked for schools in Fairhope, 7 of which is about to expire in 2 years.
Riggs: "Something absolutely has got to be done about that ... ."
"Plus, we're talking about an additional 8 mils ... to build these new buildings ... ."
DR. LEE OPPOSES LOCAL EFFORT
Committee member Jim Kellen said that since Fairhope voters traditionally have supported county tax-increase referendums (68% for), Lee was concerned that Fairhope's efforts to raise taxes locally-only by 3 mils could dilute the county-wide proposals coming down the road.
Kellen: "He was concerned ... if you dilute that approval ... it would be more difficult to achieve ... in the broader system ... ."
"He was very concerned about the efforts we might be taking ... about the 3 mils."
Riggs: "Clearly the request was for us to back off ... ."
Committee member Diana Brewer said Lee wanted to know what the additional needs are in Fairhope currently.
Brewer: "If the county decides to ask for a referendum ... were there some needs the county could help meet ... in the interim?"
The possibility of having the county match the funds ($350K) that the city earmarks yearly for education was mentioned according to Brewer, but not for this year. (The city also spends about $750,000 annually to supplement sports-related school activities, according to mayor Kant.)
REFERENDUM COULD PROCEED ANYWAY
At the Dec. 4th meeting, Kellen said Mayor Kant indicated a willingness to negotiate with Lee, but wanted to know how it would specifically benefit Fairhope if the city does not proceed with its own referendum for the Fairhope feeder pattern.
(Later, Kant told the Times he thought it would be more equitable for city residents if the entire feeder pattern contributed more to schools (via a 3 mil referendum), not just in-city residents who have been supplementing schools with $350K for the past 3 years. If the 3 mil referendum passed, the $350K would cease.)
Riggs said the city clearly had the legal authority to proceed on its own: "The ... stars are aligned ... city officials are favorably disposed ... back away now ... may lose the opportunity ... never happen (again) ... ."
Kellen noted there is no guarantee the Fairhope area would ever see any of the proposed new county tax anyway, since no new schools will be needed here.
Mayor Kant and Council President Burrell told the Times recently that the issue is still being considered -- and the council could vote to hold a voter-referendum to form the new school district as early as this summer.
More meetings were to be scheduled to discuss the complex issues: one possibly on Jan 10th.
(They also said negotiations were still underway regarding the future of the K-1 school building on Church St. -- the city wants to lease it from the county and use it as a Performing Arts Center.)
Comments
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