One cent sales tax to go up for a vote

ROBERTSDALE, Ala. - Baldwin County wants to make sure public school children get a good education, and now county leaders are turning to the community for help.

The school board asked county commissioners to allow the public to vote on a one cent sales tax increase. Commissioners decided Tuesday they would grant that request, and Friday they gave the go-ahead for the vote.

Tracy Roberts is the president of the school board. She said the future of the school system relies on the outcome of this referendum vote.

"It is so crucial. Our schools are great in Baldwin County," Roberts said. "We talked a lot about how great the schools are, and in order for us to continue that type of education, additional revenue is essential. It would be devastating for us to cut more than we already have, and it will take us years to build back if we have to do that."

The sales tax increase will be a temporary one. If passed it will only last three years, and consumers will pay one penny more on every dollar they spend.

Problems at the state level have also contributed to education budget woes. State Representative Randy Davis said tourism dollars brought in millions for schools, but the flow of visitors has dried up with the economy, meaning less money for the education.

"Instead of traveling to the beach, they're getting a swing set and staying at home. Instead of buying books, they are going to the library again,. So, we're changing the way we do things as a family and what has happened, is it has caught us in a very difficult short fall for funding," Davis added.

Parents are already campaigning to make sure the vote passes. Kristie Street has been going to the county meetings that concern the school system. She and many other moms are set on getting the word out about the vote.

"The biggest thing is we have got to educate the community on what is going on," Street said. "Just 11 weeks ago, I was one of the uneducated parents thinking that everything was okay, and I have educated myself over the past few weeks, and it just unreal what's going on. If we don't educate the community on what's going on, it's not going to pass."

Roberts said the sales tax hike is the school board's only remaining option.

"If this tax doesn't pass, Libby, everything is on the table in terms of being cut in terms of Baldwin County Schools," she said.

The vote is expected to take place sometime in March.