Are More People Supporting Sales Tax Increase For Schools?

Alabama Mobile County Commissioners hear from both sides.

by Steve Alexander

Published: Tue, October 13, 2009 - 10:22 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, October 13, 2009 - 10:50 pm CST

DAPHNE, Alabama - Is the tide turning in favor of a temporary one cent sales tax increase for school funding?
That's what Baldwin County Commissioners want to know.
Commissioners Wayne Gruenloh and Ed Bishop attended a meeting of school, county and legislative leaders Tuesday night talking about the budget cuts being made in Baldwin County Schools.
At first, school officials asked county commissioners to support a one cent sales tax increase, but they dropped that because commissioners said many taxpayers were opposed to it.
What about now?
Gruenloh said, "Initially, we saw where there were an awful lot of folks against it and I would say in the last couple of months, with all the cuts in schools, I've seen a lot of folks that are saying that they're for it."
Bishop said, "There have been some critical moves with the board, and we keep listening and hearing what is going on. There are some people in favor of it. There are a bunch of people against it."
But both county commissioners attending the meeting on the school funding crisis aren't saying yet if they'd support or reject the idea.
In the meantime, more personnel cuts could be coming at Thursday night's Baldwin County School Board meeting.
School Board President Tracy Roberts said, "For central office positions, there are going to be somewhere between 10 and maybe 15 positions on that list (to be cut)."
But there is some good financial news.
The musical group Three Doors Down donated $10,000 to benefit Baldwin students served by an education enrichment group assisting schools in Daphne.
Its called Supporting Educational Enrichment in Daphne's Schools, or SEEDS.
Denise D'Oliveira with SEEDS said the money is "going to go to things like providing a reading tutor here at Daphne High School, part time, and some help with library and computer aides."
One important day to mark on your calendar is October 30.
That's when Baldwin County Commissioners will hold a work session on the school budget crisis.
They're expected to meet with school board members and legislators.

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jeffsmith Says:

Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 4:36 pm

No way! I have one kid in school, but the sales taxes are currently too high. It’s already a crime that we have food taxed in this county. If the sales taxes go up, I’ll be protesting daily or moving to Florida.

taxpayer Says:

Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 3:28 pm

Yes - we are considering the 1% sales tax in Baldwin County. Anytime you have this many homes in foreclosure and the largest employer in the county lays off 20% of their workforce, you must consider alternative means. Stop talking about the kids; we already know the position of everyone who doesn’t have a kid in public school. This is about our local economy.

Now, if you want to call for the termination of the Baldwin County Board of Education’s CFO, then you can take comfort in knowing that is also being considered. Before the current CFO’s tenure, we always had a “SURPLUS” of monies, even in “prorated budget” years. The current CFO didn’t think a surplus was needed for tough times.

claycitymadness Says:

Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 2:12 pm

we are no more for it than we were several weeks ago when they first tried to slip it by us the schools already get a fair portion of the sales tax anay, which again a sales tax is regressive in nature and hurts those who can afford to pay the least to actually pay the most, property tax is the method to finance your schools. the owner is the one that has a direct benifit anyway with higher taxes based on better schools. revenue in the county is flat, in fact the whole state the govenor just prorated the budget again 7.5% based on sa slow revenue stream. we cant afford to pay anymore, we are flat our busted, so suck it up and live with what we give you, stop looking to alleviate your woes on the backs of your neighbors. you may support it cause your a teacher with four kids, i dont feel the same. we need to protect whatever revenue sources we do have for when the declining revenue hits the general fund of the state and county. and fairhope is in for a very rude awakening over the next several years with its property tax situation, the property tax not supporting city services. that would be a real double wammy for a lot of folks over here. leave it alone and live within your means, like we are trying to do.

carl Says:

Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 12:27 pm

O Sure there are temporary taxes.Just look at the one George Wallace put on car tags way back yonder,I believe for $15 it was.It’ll probably expire any decade now.That’s the way big important people work,they spend,spend and spend and then when they are out of money they try to make the tax payers feel bad about it and then hold their hands out for more.A BUDGET! WHAT’S A BUDGET?

mob1 Says:

Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 11:56 am

I am sure the Temporary Limits are set at something like 10yrs… Its funny how they will never say just how long “Temporary” will be….

bhutch Says:

Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 11:16 am

The more the Government gets from the people, them more they will spend, and the more they will need.

I’ve never known of a tax that is truly “temporary.” We should be able hold officials accountable for their bad, bad, bad, spending decisions.