| |
Senate Committee Approves Property tax
for Schools
The Senate approves property tax for schools
without the need for massive constitutional reform. Proponents of constitutional reform declare that to adequately
fund schools, the constitution needs to be completely overhauled. However, we find that the Senate can produce
more taxes, including local taxes, independent of a complete constitutional rewrite.
By PHILLIP RAWLS
The Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- A Senate committee gave its overwhelmingly approval to legislation that would allow Alabama
voters to decide whether to raise their property taxes to support public schools.
The 10-1 vote Wednesday by the Senate Finance and Taxation-Education Committee isn't a sign the bill is going to
fly through the Legislature. Teacher lobbyist Paul Hubbert, who supports the bill, said it will be difficult with
only seven meeting days left in the legislative session.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Dial, is a constitutional amendment that would allow Alabama voters to
decide if they want to levy an additional one-half of one percent on each dollar of taxable assessed value of property.
That amounts to a five-mil tax, which would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $30 a year, assuming
the owner used Alabama's homestead exemption.
The legislation would raise an estimated $150 million per year, which would be divided so that two-thirds goes
to K-12 schools and one-third to colleges and universities.
Dial, D-Lineville, said it wouldn't help with the current cutbacks in the education budget, but would build a sounder
financial future.
"Now with the downturn in sales, our tax growth has been reduced significantly. This has produced hardships
in all areas of education. What we must have is a more stable mix of revenue for education," he said.
Under Dial's legislation, all city and county school systems would share in the new money initially. But after
two years, those school systems that have not raised their local education taxes to 20 mils would be cut out. More
than half of Alabama's school systems would have to increase taxes.
Dial, a former high school coach, said his legislation is an incentive for cities and counties to do a better job
of supporting their schools. Alabama ranks far above the national average in state tax support for public schools,
but near the bottom nationally in local tax support, he said.
Committee Chairman Hank Sanders, D-Selma, voted for Dial's bill, but he said some poor counties without 20 mils
of property tax could end up losing out on any of the revenue after two years.
In some poor counties, black children primarily go to public schools, and white children usually go to private
schools. "It's a sad fact," Sanders said, that the racial division in schools makes it difficult to get
voters to increase local property taxes for public education.
Copyright 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten,
or redistributed.
|
|