Superintendent Of Education
Carroll Holds Public Meeting
On Proposed Sales Tax Hike

by Dwight Turner

A group of nearly 70 interested citizens assembled in the library at Ardmore High School on Monday night to hear a presentation by Limestone County Board of Education Superintendent Barry Carroll regarding the board’s plans to deal with current and future challenges facing Limestone County educators, as well as a proposed one-cent sales tax hike, earmarked to fund critical capital projects.

“Our board has been discussing needed capital projects in our schools for some time,” began Carroll. “I have attended many meetings about a number of issues, especially the upcoming BRAC (Base Relocation and Closing) influx. We came to the conclusion that it is time to do more than talk. It is time to act.”

According to Carroll, the Board of Education directed him to formulate a plan, specifying the challenges and needs facing the Limestone County School System, as well as a proposal outlining ways to meet those needs and challenges. Monday’s presentation gave an overview of the plan adopted by the Board of Education. The plan described by Carroll basically has three parts: changes in our world; the needs of Limestone County; and a proposed referendum on a one-cent countywide sales tax hike.

According to Carroll, 75 percent of the monies raised by the proposed tax increase would go to Limestone County schools, with the remaining 25 percent earmarked for Athens City Schools.

After a brief PowerPoint presentation detailing recent future projections made by the Department of Labor and other sources, Carroll again addressed the audience.

“Limestone County is growing and will continue to grow,” said Carroll. “Our challenge is to meet the challenges presented by that growth.”

Carroll stated that the current population of Limestone County is 73,476. According to projections by several local agencies, the population will swell to over 86,000 by 2012. Carroll went on to say that the current average daily attendance at Limestone County schools is 8,537. In 2012, projections say, that number will increase to over 10,000.

Carroll stated that the school system was doing well in meeting the technological needs of the students, but lagged behind in terms of facilities. During the presentation, Carroll gave detailed descriptions of proposed critical capital projects in the school system and the costs associated with those projects.

Several of the projects outlined by Carroll would directly impact both Ardmore and Elkmont. In Ardmore, Carroll cited the need for a new gymnasium as a high priority item. The new gym would cost $3.5 million. Ardmore High School would also be targeted for cafeteria expansion and renovations to the high school and middle school. The cafeteria expansion would cost $400,000, as would the proposed renovations.

Topping the list of priorities at Elkmont is a new elementary school, at an estimated cost of $11 million. The existing Elkmont school is also targeted for renovations and cafeteria expansion.

The total cost of the critical capital projects is estimated at $50 million.

“We don’t have $50 million,” said Carroll. “We have looked at various options for funding these projects, short of selling candy bars. We looked at a hike in the ad valorem tax and we also explored a sales tax increase of one cent.”

According to Carroll, raising the ad valorem tax would not be feasible and would create more problems than it is worth. After much analysis, the board decided that a one-cent sales tax hike would be the most expedient solution.

“On a $50 million bond issue, projections reveal that a one-cent sales tax increase could pay off the bond issue in ten years.”

Under the guidelines of the tax increase proposal, the tax hike would sunset in 10 years.

Carroll also noted that a significant portion of the board’s current budget is spent on debt service. According to Carroll, the board’s current level of debt is $27.8 million.

In closing the presentation, Carroll urged those present to consider three important factors. First, Limestone County is growing and will continue to grow. Second, the upcoming BRAC influx will have a direct impact on both the area and the school system and, third, action must be taken now in order to be equipped for the challenges of tomorrow.

“I am not doing this for me and I am not doing this for the employees,” said Carroll. “I am doing this for the kids. Most of them are not old enough to vote and they can’t stand up for themselves or their needs. It’s for the kids and that’s the bottom line.”

Carroll also mentioned what would happen if voters failed to approve the proposed tax hike. Among problems predicted by Carroll were: overcrowded schools and classrooms; increased student/teacher ratios; increased staffing needs; increased number of portables; and community concerns.

“Our situation is not like the movie where they said build it and they will come,” concluded Carroll. “In our case it is ‘ they are coming, build it.’”

After the presentation, Carroll took questions from the audience, including highly pertinent and analytical queries from several Ardmore High School seniors present in the audience.

Tentative date for the proposed referendum is August 14.