As Alabamians head to the polls on November 5, voters in Autauga County have another big decision to make that will affect property owners’ wallets and the educational experience of county students. A 7-mill ad valorem tax increase is proposed to support the county school system.
The Autauga County Technology Center (ACTC) explained the need for the property tax. According to ACTC, the ad valorem tax increase is designed to add $7 million annually to the school district’s local funds. Act 2024-277 will be included as a constitutional amendment on the general election ballot. Those in favor of the tax should vote yes, and those opposing the tax should vote no. Superintendent Lyman Woodfin also explains the situation.
Woodfin said, “We’re okay right now; the true question is going to be when the 2025-2026 school year hits. We play the three-shell game really well here. We are known for doing a lot with very little, but the reality is that there is a time when we will not be able to play it quickly enough to keep up with expenses under the system’s current model. Our model will change either way this vote goes, but the question is how does it look on November 6.”
Alabama Daily News reported that Woodfin said officials would have to make “hard decisions” down the line, including laying off employees and closing schools, among other cuts. “I’m going to do my very best not to cut anything, but that kind of cuts will be unavoidable without the additional funding raised through local property taxes,” Woodfin said.
Property owners in Autauga County now pay an equivalent of 10 mills in local funding, which is the minimum required by law. The addition of the 7 mill tax would see a $35 increase for property valued at $50,000, a $70 increase for a $100,000 assessment, a $140 increase for a $200,000 assessment, and a $350 increase for property valued at $500,000. These values are for owner-occupied property.
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Voters previously turned down a proposed 15 mills tax in 2022 by a small margin of 70 votes out of a total of 11,000 cast. Woodfin said that vote led officials to reduce the request to 7 mills this time. Even though many residents support the increase, many do not, especially those whose livelihoods require them to own large parcels of land.
Alabama Daily News reported that the Autauga County Famers Federation, via text message, urged Autauga County Republicans to vote against the hike. State Rep. Van Smith (R-Billingsley) leads the Autauga County Farmers Federation. Smith, who is a 37-year public education teacher, said he personally supports the referendum, but the county federation’s board voted on October 21 to oppose the tax.
Smith said, “I was outnumbered and outvoted. I did try to discourage them from opposing it, but that did not turn out the way I would like for it to.” Smith added, “I know the reason I’m going to vote for (the referendum) is because we need to have the best school system we can have in Autauga County. I think when you enhance the school system, you enhance property values and quality of life. I think you enhance your workforce.”
Harold Gaines, who is a lifelong Autauga County farmer and ALFA board member, explained his position. He said he was not against funding education, but he was opposed to using property tax to do it. “I honestly believe property tax is a cruel tax for our government to put on its citizens. The person paying the tax has no control whatsoever. The sales tax and income tax is just fairer to the individual, and it automatically adjusts to their status of where they are in their life.”
Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270
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