Renewal tax due for vote

Lauderdale County and Florence school districts are seeking renewal of a 7-mill property tax that officials say is essential in staving off deep budget cuts.

"It's money that allows us to do what we do, offer the programs we have and educate our children adequately," said Florence Superintendent Kendy Behrends. "We can't stress enough that this isn't a new tax burden for the public, just a renewal of a tax that we've depended on for well over 30 years."

The districts are requesting a special election Jan. 26, 2010, for the sole purpose of renewing the tax. The renewal cycle for the tax is every 30 years and was last voted Oct. 13, 1981. The tax has been on the books since 1951.

The 7-mill tax would generate $1.59 million per year for Florence schools and $2.71 million in Lauderdale County. It's a significant part of both systems' budgets, with Lauderdale County operating on 18 mills total and Florence on 25 mills.

One mill is the equivalent of one dollar per $1,000 of assessed property value.

"The fact we want to get out about this extremely important tax is that, first of all, it isn't new but a continuation of what we've depended on for many years and, secondly, that this is money that stays in our districts," said Lauderdale Superintendent Billy Valentine. "Florence voters vote for the 7 mills for the city district and county voters will vote for the 7 mills for Lauderdale County schools."

Both Valentine and Behrends said with deep budget cuts from proration this year, the timing of the renewal tax is critical.

Both superintendents said if the tax is not renewed, the loss of such a significant amount of money would mean teacher cuts, larger class sizes, getting behind in technology and compromising on building maintenance. Valentine said additional cuts in his system could include paring down the school nursing program and transportation.

"Any time there's a significant loss in funding to schools, there has to be cuts across the board," he said.

But there are some favorable factors that the superintendents agree should work to their advantage in persuading voters to continue the tax.

"Both systems are financially sound, so we've proven to be good stewards of the public's money," Valentine said.

The school boards for both districts approved resolutions Tuesday for the special election.

Lauderdale County officials said voting locations will be established at all 31 precincts throughout the county, in Florence, and outlying areas.

Behrends said she hopes the recent successful renewal tax elections in Scottsboro and Cleburne County are a sign of things to come with the local election.

"We're hoping that the people who are pro-education come out to vote for this renewal," Behrends said. "Our employees who live in the county will hopefully go out and vote to help Lauderdale schools and Lauderdale employees living in Florence will be voting for our district."

Lisa Singleton-Rickman can be reached at 740-5735 or lisa.singleton-rickman@TimesDaily.com.