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  • Cullman County Board of Education Superintendent Billy Coleman speaks to the Cullman City Schools board Tuesday night about the proposed countywide half-cent sales tax. Trent Moore

    County schools Sup. Coleman meets with city school board

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January 19, 2012

‘Side-by-side’

County schools Sup. Coleman meets with city school board

By Trent Moore The Cullman Times

CULLMAN — If a countywide half-cent sales tax for education is approved by voters this March, Cullman City Schools will receive approximately 22 percent, based on enrollment. But, that’s not the point Cullman County Board of Education Superintendent Billy Coleman wants to focus on —he’s more concerned about what the other 78 percent could mean for his struggling system.

“We’re very fortunate to have a half-cent sales tax vote coming up, and we wanted to share with you our approach,” Coleman told the city school board Tuesday night, at the board’s monthly meeting. “We want to be positive, and to work together side-by-side.”

The city system already receives a half-cent tax within the city limits, passed several years ago by the Cullman city council, which provides significant local revenue for the system. In the past, that fact has been a bone of contention for some county residents.

Coleman noted that in past campaigns — a similar referendum was voted down by a 52/48 percent margin in 2010 — part of the focus had been on comparing the county and city systems. But, not this time.

“We’re not just going to compare ourselves to the city system,” he said. “I think there has been enough of that, and I think people are tired of that.”

To paint what he hopes is a more accurate picture, Coleman said he wants to show how Cullman County stacks up against comparable county systems in local revenue support.

“We are 84th in the state (from a total of 132 systems) in local revenue, and the point I’m trying to make is that state and federal dollars are based on student enrollment,” he said. “Walker County is 39th, Cullman City is 33rd and Morgan County is 16th. With state and federal, when times are good they’re good for everybody, and when times are bad they’re bad for everybody. That’s where the local support can really kick in.”

If the tax were to pass, current estimates indicate it would likely move the county system up to around 55th in the state, a move Coleman said could help strengthen its position for the future. Proration and state budget cuts have left the county system low on funds, and officials hope the half-cent tax will be the answer to stop the bleeding.

Coleman said he is confident voters won’t get hung up on the fact that the tax would be divided between the city and county systems, as is required by state law. Instead, he hopes they will merely see the need and want to help the district.

“The question becomes: How will we use our 78 percent?,” Coleman said. “The city will get 22 percent, and that’s fine, because all systems can use the help. And we need it.”

The county school board has pledged to use 60 percent of the tax revenue they would receive for instruction, 20 percent for maintenance and 20 percent for school projects, if it passes. Coleman noted a series of community meetings about the tax will be announced soon.

“We’re very optimistic, we have a plan, and we feel like it’s a good one,” he said.

City school board officials say they are in support of the tax, though they do not currently plan to get involved with the campaign.

Cullman City Schools Superintendent Dr. Jan Harris noted the additional revenue could be used to repair older buildings across the system, if the tax were to pass.

“Of course, with our capital needs list, it’d be a real blessing for our school system,” she said.



* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.

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