County Commission Approves Special Election For Vote On Property Tax Increase

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa County Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved a referendum to be held next year that will allow voters to decide on raising property taxes to provide additional funding support for the Tuscaloosa County School System.

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Superintendent Keri Johnson and other TCSS officials were in attendance for Wednesday's regular meeting of the Commission and requested a special election be held on Feb. 14, 2023 to vote on an 8-mill increase to fund local schools, which would raise the total millage rate to 18 mills.

On the ballot, she said, there would be two check boxes for voters — one to approve 5 mills and one for 3 mills.

Johnson estimates if passed, the property tax increase would bring the school system approximately $15 million a year in additional revenue.

"Our schools are also aging ... these numbers are eye-popping, 50 or more years — we have 14 schools," she said of the oldest schools in the system's footprint. Other improvements would be points of focus on pre-K and arts programs, while the increase would also provide the necessary revenue to pursue large capital projects.

Johnson said in terms of big capital projects that could be funded through the tax increase, a new Vance Elementary could be constructed, along with a new middle school for the Lake View area, classroom additions for Holt Elementary and improvements to athletic facilities at Brookwood High School.

What's more, Johnson said the school is working on securing property for a new elementary school for the Northside school zone in Samantha, as well as a new middle school.

She also explained that even though the voters would vote for 8 mills, it would technically be a net of 7.5 mills, due to the state previously giving the county school system a half of a mill.

The request also comes amid a push by the City of Northport to break away from the county school system in the hopes of forming its own city school district.

As it stands, the existing millage rate for Northport and Tuscaloosa County remains at the state-mandated minimum of 10 mills. Officials in Northport have proposed an increase of 11 mills, which would bring Northport in line with the City of Tuscaloosa's 21 mills. For another comparison, the City of Madison has 16 mills for its school system.

The last time Tuscaloosa County voters considered raising property taxes for schools was in 1996, which failed countywide but performed well north of the Black Warrior River and did pass with the voters inside the City of Northport.

Johnson pointed out that a property tax increase could help fund a new school in Northport that would allow TCSS to close both Matthews Elementary and Crestmont Elementary, along with building a new elementary school for Flatwoods Elementary.

The task would be a tall one for the City of Northport if it opts to secede, especially during a time of rampant inflation and considering outstanding debt for TCSS that would have to be absorbed by the city. This includes $3.5 million still owed on Echols Middle School, while $5.5 million is owed on the Northport Career Tech Center.

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It's also worth pointing out that this doesn't even include the $24 million Northport Intermediate School that opened its doors in August 2020.

Johnson said pre-polling surveys already conducted have been favorable among voters, before saying the plan moving forward would be go to each school zone and meet with parents to convey plans and answer questions now that the Commission approved the referendum.

The County Commission will now be tasked with covering the costs of the February special election, which Probate Judge Rob Robertson said would be roughly $300,000. Commissioners Stan Acker and Reginald Murray also agreed that it was important for TCSS officials to be deliberate in the messaging to shore up support among teachers and those in the community.

If passed by the voters, Johnson said the projected collection date for the property tax would be October 2023.

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