By Nathan Prewett
For the Tribune
CENTER POINT – A public hearing was held by the Center Point City Council at 6 p.m. on Thursday night on 5 Mills ad valorem taxes before pre-council and regular meeting. The council later voted to delay the discussion on ad valorem for the next meeting.
photo by Bethany Adams
A presentation was made on the possibility of ad valorem taxes, beginning with a general overview of the city and its government. The last few pages of the presentation state that Center Point is in need of more revenue in order to implement more services as well as upgrade other services. Copies were provided for the public.
“The City understands there are more numerous ways to increase revenue but the ad valorem tax would be the least taxing on the residents,” the presentation said.
The presentation also said that Center Point is heavily reliant on sales taxes and operated without sales tax revenue during its first four and a half years. Council President Roger Barlow said that almost 50 percent of revenue comes from sales tax. The city has not increased sales tax since being enacted in 2007.
Part of the proposal for ad valorem is increasing the salaries of city employees by 25 percent. The presentation listed current salaries of Center Point city employees to those from Hueytown, Gardendale and Fultondale.
As an example, under the proposal the building inspector’s salary would go from $18.60 to $23.25 as compared to $23.50, $23.82 and $22.35 in Hueytown, Gardendale and Fultondale respectively.
Barlow said that increasing salaries will give employees an incentive to stay and that money generated from the 5 Mills will be spent on matching grant program for economic development, upgrades of buildings on Center Point Parkway and improvements to city parks.
Increase in property taxes will depend on the market value, ranging from $4.79 per month ($57.50 annually) to $22.50 per month ($112.50 annually). Barlow estimated that 5 Mills will generate around $500,000.
The council took questions and comments from the public before moving on to pre-council and the regular meeting.
Several resolutions were voted on later in the meeting. A resolution to allow Jefferson County to use the senior center for elections was voted on with two saying yes and three saying no.
Afterwards the council voted unanimously to recognize Center Point High School Principal Van A. Phillips, who was selected for Alabama Secondary Principal of the Year by the Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals.
“Van has really turned the schools around here,” Henderson said. “We’re so proud of what he’s done and what he continues to do.”
Mayor Tom Henderson read out Phillips’ accomplishments, which included getting the graduation rate up from 49 percent to 89 percent, lowering the dropout rate from 25 percent to 3 percent and brought $300,000 worth of senior scholarships to $5 million.
“I’m very honored to be recognized by the council and the mayor,” Phillips said. “Because we could not have done what we did without Center Point’s assistance. The money that you have given us over the years has made the lives of students a whole lot better.”
The council then approved $22,590 for cost and construction of building projects, including installation of bathrooms at Reed Harvey Park. Discussion on ad valorem taxes was then delayed for the next meeting.
During the mayor’s comments, Henderson proclaimed Center Point resident Stella Contos as Ms. Center Point. Contos was presented with a key to the city and will go on to represent the city in the Ms. Alabama competition on June 4 to 10. The mayor’s wife read a poem out loud entitled “A Beauty Queen’s Blessing” to commemorate Contos’ achievement.
The citywide cleanup organized by Councilman Bobby Scott will be held on May 13 from 8 to 10 p.m. followed by a charity basketball game between the sheriff’s department and city employees at Center Point High School. Alabama players David Palmer and Roger Shultz. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children.
The next council meeting will be held on May 25 with pre-council at 6:45 p.m. and regular meeting at 7 p.m.
6 Comments
Sharon Blackwood Wilbourn
To add to this Council President Barlow banned Mr. Billy Hagood from all future meetings. Barlow said he isn’t allowed back at City Hall. Which is in violation of the law. By law the city council has NO AUTHORITY except in the actual meeting. So PLEASE tell me how Barlow is above the laws??!!
Kevin Small
1. By definition increasing taxes is taxing to the resident.
2. Raise salaries by 25%? What failing business would raise its employees salaries 25%? Centerpoint is a failing City and the City’s leadership should show progress before raising taxes.
3. 3 shootings in the last couple of weeks and the week of April 28th. Centerpoint had 13 burglaries,
6 car break ins, and 1 business burglary. That’s in one week. How could this money go to anything other than public safety?
Christina Parker Miller
^^^^now those are the numbers that need to be discussed at council meetings every week in CP!!
Christina Parker Miller
And they explained the pay raise by comparing their pay to Gardendale. Are you kidding me lol? I can’t even wrap my brain around their mindset. In CP kids are shot are carnivals, elderly are woke up from their sleep by home invaders and required to kill them, businesses owners are shot opening up shop. Instead of spending money to possibly prevent this, they want a raise. Ugh!!!!!!!
Sharon Mcclung Bahm
Kevin Small, could you please share that on the City’s facebook page for more public viewing. You can click to rate the city and comment.
Sharon Mcclung Bahm
Public pressure seems to mean nothing.