By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — Dates have been set for two public forums on the proposed seven-millage property tax increase that would fund two new elementary schools in Trussville.
The first will be Thursday, Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the Trussville Civic Center. The second public forum will be Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Trussville Civic Center.
The city of Trussville won’t hold any public hearings, Mayor Gene Melton said.
The vote of Trussville residents for or against the seven-millage property tax increase is Tuesday, Feb. 25.
Trussville City Schools Superintendent Pattie Neill said the benefits of two new elementary schools are eliminating all portable classrooms at the Paine Elementary Campus, improving school safety with tornado shelters, improving the quality of education with smaller class sizes and improving property values.
Seven additional mills in property taxes would cost Trussville residents $70 per year on homes appraised at $100,000, $140 per year on homes appraised at $200,000 and $210 per year on homes appraised at $300,000.
The plan is to renovate the city’s original high school in the Cahaba Project and to build a new school near the Magnolia Place subdivision.
“We can’t hold overcrowding at Paine any longer,” Neill said last month. “This particular solution gives us room for growth for many years.”
Neill said that despite spreading students across three elementary campuses, the Paine campus will not lack students. Projected city growth, notably in the new Stockton subdivision, will prevent Paine from lacking students.
Board President Bill Roberts said it should be stressed to city residents that two new schools will improve traffic congestion in downtown Trussville and other areas.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.