Barbour County sales tax vote set next Tuesday

The Barbour County Commission will likely vote on whether to implement a one-cent sales tax increase for education next Tuesday, Dec. 20.

Commissioners agreed to the special meeting after several dozen supporters of Barbour County Schools (BCS) came to this week’s regularly scheduled meeting, which was held Tuesday night in Eufaula. Those supporters asked commissioners to approve the temporary tax to help the county schools remain financially solvent. If approved, the nine-month tax could go into effect on Jan. 1 and generate $345,000 for the system.

Jimmy Fryer, the superintendent of BCS, discussed his system’s financial woes for several minutes. He said the system is projecting a $316,000 shortfall for this budget year. Without financial assistance, Fryer said the system will face state takeover.

Fryer said the system has been financially responsible, but that several years of proration have wiped out $1 million in reserves since 2008. The system currently has approximately $66,000 in reserves. The system has lost $1.4 million due to proration since 2008.

“We need your help. The students need your help,” Fryer said. He said the tax increase “would help us get out of the ICU and off of life support.”

“It does not fix everything permanently, but it gives us time,” he said.

Fryer then fielded questions from commissioners. Pete McKnight asked Fryer what the system would do after Sept. 30, when the proposed tax increase is set to expire.

“There are some things in the works I cannot talk about that will generate some funds,” Fryer said. “I cannot say we won’t be here again.”

Commissioner Frank Straughn asked Fryer why the system was just coming to the commission for help, even though the system had been forced to spend reserve funds for approximately three years. Commissioner Fred Cooper, who is also the principal of Barbour County Primary School, answered Straughn. He said that most people did not the nation’s economic woes to continue this long. A poor economy is bad for school systems which generate much of their revenue from sales taxes.

“A lot of this was difficult to fathom before now,” Cooper said.

Cooper later warned commissioners about the effects of a state takeover, something that happened in the system several years ago. He said that the system could be consolidated into three schools on two campuses.

“If we don’t make AYP, we’re not only looking at state financial takeover. We’re looking at state academic takeover,” Cooper said. “Until we can work out a solution for the permanent funding, we need temporary funding.”

Commissioner Trip Horne said he didn’t want to see any additional consolidation of the system. Approximately 10 years ago, schools in Baker Hill, Clio and Comer closed as the system consolidated into four schools – two in Clayton and two in Louisville.

Horne also discussed the long bus rides that children as young as 5 make each day. Some students get on the bus at 6 a.m., if not sooner.

“We owe it to the kids of this county to help them for nine months,” he said.

Straughn also asked about the extra three mills in property taxes that the system recently received, in accordance with state law. Fryer said that even with the property tax revenues, the system is still woefully funded – especially by a lack of local tax support. He said that no teacher units are funded locally.

“We’re at the marrow. We’re not at the bone anymore,” he said. “Our hand is horrible.”

Straughn said a sales tax increase would only be a “Band Aid” for the system. He suggested that the system work with county commissioners in seeking a property tax increase which could fund schools and the county general fund.

Fryer said the system cannot wait that long, especially since such a proposal would first have to make it through the Alabama Legislature.

“Our children’s future is passing through too many hands,” Fryer said, to loud applause.

Commissioner Henry Franklin encouraged commissioners to support the sales tax proposal.

“We can pass this if we have a backbone,” he said.

The Rev. L.C. Green of St. John AME Church also encouraged commissioners to approve the proposal immediately.

“We’re here to tell our representatives we want you to take care of our schools,” he said on behalf of several area pastors in the meeting.

The Rev. Wash Williams of Zion Baptist Church warned commissioners that if the schools are not properly funded, the system would have a higher dropout rate. He also feared more youth would eventually end up in prison.

“I’d rather put my money toward the school system than the jailhouse,” he said.

The Rev. Richard Hunter of First African Baptist Church said county school children are worth the tax increase.

“It’s time for us to do the right thing,” he said. “Eufaula sits on plenty of money. It was rich when I left here. And it was even richer when I came back.”

He said Barbour County Schools need a Band Aid.

“A Band Aid will stop the bleeding until I can get to the hospital,” he said.

Commission chairman Earl Gilmore and Fryer did have some pointed discussion on why a vote hadn’t already taken place. Gilmore said he waited on word from Fryer regarding an earlier one-half cent sales tax proposal, where the money would have been split evenly between Eufaula City Schools and Barbour County Schools.

“We could have (voted) two months ago, but we were waiting on the superintendent,” Gilmore said.

Fryer said he was waiting on word from the system’s attorney on whether the one-half cent sales tax proposal was legal. It appears the proposal is not legal because the systems are supposed to receive funding based on student population. Eufaula City Schools (ECS) would receive 71 percent of any funding, and Barbour County Schools would receive 29 percent. ECS officials had agreed to a 50-50 split for a one-half cent sales tax.

Under the current proposal, ECS would receive approximately $845,000 between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30. ECS is in solid financial shape. The system finished last fiscal year with a surplus of approximately $1.5 million.

Fryer said he had been communicating with Cooper, who served as a “liaison” between the system and the commission.

When Gilmore said the commission could vote on the proposal next week, most of the audience voiced their displeasure. Rev. Green asked several times why a vote couldn’t take place then.

“What I’m hearing is disappointing,” resident James Thomas said. “The longer we delay, the worse we get.”

Eufaula City Council member Johnny Knight told commissioners to “put your foot down.”

“Just let us know what we need to do,” he said.

After 75 minutes of discussion, commissioners agreed to vote at 5 p.m. next Tuesday in the Eufaula courthouse. The meeting will be open to the public.