By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — A vote of Trussville residents for or against a property tax increase to fund two new community elementary schools will likely take place in March 2014.
Trussville City Schools Superintendent Pattie Neill presented a probable plan to the Parent Advisory Council on Wednesday.
On Friday, the city of Trussville mailed out letters to all city residents with an eight-question survey asking about various city services. Two of the questions address the possible property tax increase. The letter also provides information on the city’s new garbage pickup service and contact information for city officials.
The Magnolia Place site in Trussville
file photo by Gary Lloyd
A seven-mill property tax increase would fund one community school in the Magnolia Place area and the renovation of the New Deal-era school building on Parkway Drive. Both schools would be equipped with Federal Emergency Management Agency-approved community tornado shelters.
A seven-mill increase would mean $70 per year extra in property taxes for homeowners who own homes appraised at $100,000. That number would be $140 on $200,000 homes and $210 on $300,000 homes.
The funds from the increase would also support school resource officers at all city schools and possible retrofit existing schools to have community tornado shelters.
Public hearings about the possible increase are expected to be scheduled in January and February.
Read more about the possibility here and here.
In March 2010, Trussville residents voted overwhelmingly against a property tax increase. That tax proposal was to be split between the city and the schools and included projects such as renovating or rebuilding the football stadium and renovating the Parkway property to relieve overcrowding at Paine Primary and Intermediate schools.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
