School tax vote in jeopardy

By Staff
Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
Time is running out for plans to hold a referendum on a 12.5 mill property tax to pay for a new high school.
City Councilman Bill Drake voted to table a resolution calling for the local legislative delegation to set the date for the vote. Rep. Ronald Grantland, D-Hartselle, said he wouldn’t introduce the resolution into the legislature unless the council’s request calling for the vote is unanimous. Morgan County’s legislative delegation has long had a policy of not introducing local legislation unless the council agrees unanimously on the issue. A unanimous request is not required by law.
Drake said he voted to table the matter because he’s not in favor of holding a referendum on a matter he believes will fail.
Drake denied he was opposing the matter in retaliation for previous votes on school board appointments. Earlier this month, Drake cast the only no vote in the reappointment of School Board member Jennifer Sittason.
The school tax resolution was introduced at Tuesday night’s council meeting. Before the vote, City Attorney Larry Madison advised the council to table the resolution if they thought anyone would vote against it. Drake has voted against similar resolutions.
Madison said the council has until its May 8 meeting to pass the resolution.
Drake was the lone hold out on the resolutions. Others said they supported letting the people vote on the issue.
Bill Smelser said he personally supported the tax increase and thought the people should have a say on the matter.
Council President Kenny Thompson said he didn’t think a sales tax would provide the consistent funding needed for a new school.
Members of the school board and Superintendent Mike Reed were in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting. They have said a new high school will cost some $30 million.
Unless Drake changes his mind and votes to introduce the resolution at the next council meeting, the matter now lies with Grantland and the other members of the legislative delegation.
Madison said the school board members would have to be the one to convince Grantland to change the long-standing policy.