School tax and Amendment 3 passed for Baldwin County

Baldwin County’s school tax vote passed by a wide margin. Nearly 63 percent of voters voted yes to extend the one cent sales tax for another five years. For the school system and the students it serves, millions of dollars were on the line.

SCHOOL TAX VOTE

School officials and the campaign behind Baldwin County Amendment two met in Daphne as results came in. As the numbers added up, supporters of the one cent sales tax extension celebrated. The Amendment garnered support at a rate of two to one in most precincts. Then finally, enough came in to declare victory.

Baldwin County Superintendent Dr. Alan Lee said, “I’m just absolutely elated. I just can’t say enough about how good I feel about the voters in Baldwin County and the recognition of the schools and what we’re doing.”

$28 MILLION PER YEAR

The tax, which was first passed in 2010 to make up for state funding shortfalls, raises $28 million a year for the school system. Without it, hundreds of teachers would have been laid off and drastic cuts would have been made.

Campaign Coordiantor Denise D’Oliveira told us, “I think this is an affirmation of all the hard work the school system has been doing since the 2010 vote.”

D’Oliveira coordinated the campaign behind the amendment. While excited about the victory, she knows there will be more battles to come.

 “A lot of hard work to continue because, school funding is going to be a continuing issue for our community and the state of Alabama,” D’Oliveira said.

But that’s for another day. This day was to celebrate another five years of funding.

 “It means that we can continue the progress that we’ve made over the last several years. We’ll continue to do creative things, innovative things, and things that will help our children be able to compete in the world,“ Dr. Lee said. “I’m very excited about that.”

FIVE YEAR EXTENSION

Tuesday's vote extends the penny tax through 2018. Any further extensions would have to be made by legislatures.