County urges citizens to renew sales tax
Every two years, the citizens of Franklin County decide whether to renew their efforts to provide additional funding for county road projects and city and county schools – to the tune of a 1-cent sales tax.
The time has come for citizens to again vote to renew this 1-cent sales tax, which has been approved every two years since 2010.
“This is a win-win,” said Probate Judge Barry Moore. “It’s just renewing the additional 1 cent sales tax we have.”
Of the tax, 75 percent of the funds go to the schools systems. The remaining 25 percent goes to the county commission for matching funds for ATRIP road projects.
“We couldn’t continue on repairing the roads we have through the ATRIP projects (without these funds),” Moore said.
A yes vote in March will renew the 1-cent tax for another two years.
“With the renewal of this tax, we can complete the $12 million-plus ATRIP projects on bridges and major collector roads in the county,” explained Commissioner Rayburn Massey. “Without the voters approving this tax, those projects could not have been done because neither the highway department nor the general fund had revenue – about $2.4 million – in matching funds to receive the $12 million-plus from the state and federal government.”
The percentage of people voting in favor of the sales tax – which originally only went to the schools – has increased with every vote since 2010. In 2014, which was the first year 25 percent of the 1-cent tax was earmarked for the county, 2,777 people voted in favor – 78 percent – to only 764 against.
“The commission appreciates the vote and trust of the voters to make this possible,” Massey said. “We hope it’s approved again to where we can take advantage of the total $12 million that was awarded.”
“It has increased every year, and so I hope the people who vote on it will continue to pass this because its benefits the school system and the citizens,” Moore added. “We appreciate the superintendents being supportive of it.”
The vote on the ballot reads:
Relating to Franklin County, to authorize the Franklin County Commission to allocate one-fourth of the proceeds from the existing one cent sales tax for public schools in Franklin County for the purpose of matching funds for the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program in Franklin County, provided the allocation shall be for a term of two years and may be extended for two-year terms only if approved by a majority of voters in Franklin County in subsequent elections. (Pursuant to Amendment 881).
Voters are urged to vote yes to renew the 1-cent tax.
