Several groups oppose tax increase in Tuscaloosa County
Voters today are going to the polls in Tuscaloosa County to decide whether or not to pass a ten-mill property tax increase to benefit the Tuscaloosa County School System. It is usually only small-government conservatives who oppose tax increases to benefit schools, but this referendum has been very different. A broad coalition of opponents from across the political spectrum are urging Tuscaloosa County voters to vote “no” on this tax increase. The single-issue ballot measure, on Valentine’s Day, includes one five-mill tax increase and a three-mill tax increase. Some tax increase opponents have suggested that the decision to schedule this referendum on Valentine’s Day was intentional as an attempt to decrease voter turnout. The Tuscaloosa Farmers Federation opposes the tax increase and has funded “Vote No” signs that have appeared across the county. Farmers and timberland owners have a large portion of their net wealth tied up in land, so massive tax increases disproportionately impacts them. Farmers, like homeowners, have to pay property taxes whether they make any money that year or not. Former Northport Mayor Bobby Herndon is asking voters to vote No on the tax increase; because he feels that Northport would be better served by forming its own city school system and that this tax increase will not do enough to benefit Northport families. “I’m very passionate about Northport city schools,” Herndon said. “But as a Dad, a Granddad, a citizen of the great city of Northport, Northport’s never going to be the city it can be until it has its own school system.” The Tuscaloosa NAACP is also calling for voters to vote No on the tax increase proposal over concerns above allegations of racism and censorship of Black history during Black History Month. Lisa Young is the President of the Tuscaloosa Chapter of the NAACP. Young said that the NAACP believes the allegations that the students have made and are asking Tuscaloosa County voters to vote no. “One of the requests of the students is that citizens in the county not support the tax referendum scheduled for tomorrow’s vote,” Young said Monday. “We are asking people to su[pport these students by going to the polls tomorrow and voting no. While we want quality education for all students in Alabama, we cannot trust that the funds received would be used to benefit all students equally.” Superintendent Keri Johnson said that the tax increase will generate $150 million for the system over the next ten years. The tax increase will apply to vehicle tags as well as homes, businesses, farms, and lands. Johnson said that passing both tax increase measures on the ballot will fund a number of capital improvements as well as allow the system to reduce class sizes, improve mental health services for students, allow the system to offer dual enrollment scholarships, hire more school resource officers, and improve security. This does not apply to persons whose children as zoned to Tuscaloosa City schools, as the City of Tuscaloosa has its own school system. Residents of Tuscaloosa city pay 21 mills in property taxes. Tuscaloosa County residents currently pay 10 mills – the minimum that the state will allow. Polls will stay open until 7:00 p.m. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tuscaloosa County voters to decide on property tax increase on Tuesday
Tuscaloosa County voters go to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether or not to raise property taxes. The Tuscaloosa County School Board is asking for an eight-mill increase in property tax. The Tuscaloosa County Commission has called the Special Election at the request of the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education to let voters decide on whether or not to raise property taxes for the Tuscaloosa County school system. The tax increases are divided into two ballot initiatives: one for a five-mill increase and the other for a three-mill increase. If both pass, then according to the Tuscaloosa County School Superintendent Keri Johnson, the system will receive about $15 million a year in additional revenues. The system already receives 10 mills in local tax support in addition to state and federal dollars. Former Northport Mayor Bobby Herndon has come out in opposition to the massive proposed tax increase. “I’m very passionate about Northport city schools,” Herndon said. “But as a Dad, a Granddad, a citizen of the great city of Northport, Northport’s never going to be the city it can be until it has its own school system.” “I know the county school board’s made presentations and showing what their proposals are and how they’re going to rebuild the schools and all this stuff across the county, but we have no guarantees of that,” said Herndon argued. “If you and I were to go to a bank to borrow money to do something, then we’d have to fill out all kind of paperwork and all kind of agreements and all kind of contracts that have to be definite things that’s going to take place if we build or if we don’t build. We come up failing to do what we have said that we would do, but we have nothing that we can hold them liable for.” Proponents claim that the money will be used to fund capital projects, fund more school resource officers, building security improvements, more pre-K services, decrease class sizes, increase electives, provide more mental health services, and increase dual enrollment scholarships. The tax increase will not affect Tuscaloosa city residents as Tuscaloosa city has a municipal school system. Tuscaloosa City residents pay 21 mills to support their city system. The Tuscaloosa County System has come under criticism recently for concerns about the culture at the schools and concerns that Black History may not be fully taught during Black History Month. There was a recent student walkout at Hillcrest High School to express these concerns. “We care deeply about our students, and it is important that their concerns are heard,” Johnson said in a statement. “We are putting together a plan to make sure our Hillcrest High students have an opportunity to express their concerns openly and honestly. Listening to them will let us know the right steps to take to ensure all students know they are valued.” The past two times that county voters were asked to increase their property taxes, voters rejected the measures. Polls will open at 7:00 am and close at 7:00 pm. Voters need to have a valid photo ID in order to participate in any Alabama election. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Students walk out after told to limit Black History program
More than 200 students walked out of class at an Alabama high school after they say they were told by school leaders to omit certain relevant events from an upcoming student-led Black History Month program. However, school officials have denied the allegations even while acknowledging the need for students’ concerns to be heard. Students told WBMA-TV they were ordered to leave out major historical moments, including slavery and the civil rights movement, from the program scheduled for February 22 at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa. The students were told they “couldn’t talk about slavery and civil rights because one of our administrators felt uncomfortable,” said Black History Month Program board member J’Niyah Suttles, a senior who participated in Wednesday’s walkout. She said the direction from a school administrator left her hurt. “My protector from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. — for you to tell me I can’t talk about something that is dealing with my culture is very disturbing; it’s very confusing,” Suttles said. Fellow Hillcrest senior Jada Holt expressed similar emotions. “Why am I being censored about my culture, something that is rooted in me? Why can’t I talk about it? History is history, and it’s already been made, and it can’t be erased,” she said. Senior Jamiyah Brown, who helped put the program together, organized the walkout, which lasted about an hour. “Without our history, we are nothing. Without teaching our youth where we come from, how can we move forward?” Brown said. Tuscaloosa County Superintendent Dr. Keri Johnson, in a statement, denied allegations that an administrator told the students to leave out historical elements. “It is not true that faculty or staff told students that slavery or the civil rights movement could not be part of the program,” Johnson said. “When several community members heard this and contacted Hillcrest High administration out of concern, the administration explained to them that this was false information that was circulating.” Johnson said the school system supports the student’s right to peacefully demonstrate. “A number of our Hillcrest High students have concerns about the culture within their school. We care deeply about our students, and it is important that their concerns are heard. We are putting together a plan to make sure our students feel heard so that we know the right steps to put in place to ensure all students know that they are valued,” Johnson said. The president of the Tuscaloosa Branch of the NAACP, Lisa Young, said the alleged direction was a disgrace. “I don’t know how you can talk about Black history in this country without talking about slavery or the civil rights movement,” Young said. She said she has asked to meet with Johnson but has yet to be given a date. Young said she was “angry, and part of me feels like we failed our students. We want to see what we can do to assist them, and make their school a safe place.” Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
