By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — A citywide election will be held Tuesday for residents to vote whether or not to approve a seven-millage property tax increase to fund two new community elementary schools in Trussville.
Polls will be located at Trussville City Hall and First Baptist Church of Trussville. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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.
A rendering of what the elementary school in the Cahaba Project will look like, as seen from where Jack Wood Stadium currently stands
photo courtesy of Trussville City Schools
The plan, should the vote pass, is to renovate the city’s original high school in the Cahaba Project and to build a new school near the Magnolia Place subdivision. The schools will likely house 400 students each and could house as many as 500. Both schools would be equipped with Federal Emergency Management Agency-approved community tornado shelters.
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 increasing property values. More than 300 students at the Paine campus currently have classes in 13 portables.
A rendering of the elementary school that will be built in the Magnolia Place area
photo courtesy of Trussville City Schools
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 Drive school property to relieve overcrowding at Paine Primary and Intermediate schools.
More about the proposed property tax increase:
Video: Trussville property tax forum brings questions, answers
A Letter to the Editor in support of the property tax increase
A Letter to the Editor not in support of the property tax increase
Cahaba Project residents push for neighborhood school
First Trussville property tax public forum: ‘It’s time for some neighborhood schools’
Need for 2 new elementary schools ‘rang true’ with superintendent during Jan. 28 weather
Opinion: It’s time to build some schools
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
