Schools seek grassroots support for property tax

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
The race is on for votes in support of a proposed 7.5-mill property tax to help fund the construction of a new high school and make other school improvements in Hartselle. A special referendum will be held March 11 to give city voters the opportunity to vote for or against the measure.
If approved, the tax is expected to generate about $735,000, or about one-half of the amount needed to float a $30 million bond issue for 30 years. The other half will come from a proposed half-cent sales tax, which elected officials have agreed to pass if the property tax is approved.
Plans for the “Vote Yes for a New HHS” campaign were revealed at two public meetings held back- to- back last Thursday evening and Friday morning at the Hartselle Fine Arts Center (Old Burleson Elementary School). Then, on Saturday morning, “Vote “Yes” yard signs were distributed to supporters at the J.P. Cain Stadium parking lot. All 500 signs were distributed and additional signs have been ordered.
School Board Member Jennifer Sittason coordinated both meetings. She explained the city’s five schools will play the lead role in the campaign. All of the schools except Hartselle High has been assigned a geographic section of the city and will assume responsibility for garnering support for the proposed tax in its own area. The high school will fill in anywhere it is needed and its student organizations are expected to be actively involved.
Sittason said each school will have its own committees to head up various aspects of the campaign, including publicity, house-to-house visitation, telephone calls, distribution of educational materials, voter registration, and complimentary transportation and babysitting on Election Day.
The school system will have representatives available to answer questions about the tax and plans for its use at Barkley Bridge Elementary School’s Winterfest Celebration on Feb. 9, according to Sittason. They also are available to speak to business, civic and church groups.
A high point in the campaign is planned for March 1. Teams of volunteers from each school will conduct a door-to-door campaign for “yes” votes in their respective areas. In cases where no one is at home, an informational brochure will be left. During the week leading up to the election the parents of each student will be called by phone and reminded to go to the polls to vote.