School tax proposal awaits council action

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle City Council is expected to consider a resolution requesting Morgan County’s legislative delegation to enact legislation for a referendum on a proposed 12.5 mill property tax increase at its Nov. 28 meeting. The additional revenue source is needed to fund the construction of a new Hartselle High School.
District No. 9 State Rep. Ronald Grantland, D-Hartselle, said he will move to have the tax proposal approved by the state legislature as a local act as soon as he gets a signed resolution from the city council. However, he said it must have unanimous approval.
A strong show of support for a new high school and a property tax to fund its construction was made at a pubic hearing last week. Of 25 people who spoke or asked questions, 22 indicated they would vote for the tax if given the opportunity.
John Carnes, a lawn care contractor and elementary school mentor, was one of those who supported a tax referendum.
Thompson said he was surprised that there were no more negative comments about the proposed tax at the hearing.
If the proposed referendum is approved, revenue from the tax is estimated at $1.2 million the first year it is collected. It would be used to support a $25 to $30 million bond issue, which would be repaid over a 30-year period.
The owner of a house valued at $100,000 would pay an addition $34 cents a day or $125 a year.