Autauga County school board discusses options after voters rejected tax hike
Members of the Autauga County school board are discussing funding issues after voters turned down an ad valorem tax hike last year.
As Action 8 News has reported, the tax hike would have raised an additional $7 million a year for the school system. School leaders had warned that once it failed at the polls, budget cuts might be necessary starting in the 2025-2026 school year.
One option would be for Prattville to start its own city school system. The board said the startup costs over 15 months would be about $8.2 million, which would require finding an additional $7.2 million to make happen.
“What I’m advocating for is cooperation among the Autauga County Board of Education, the city of Prattville, the county commissioners on what is the solution to get some funding so that we can fix our facilities,” Autauga County School Superintendent Lyman Woodfin told Action 8 News.
“A lot of the feedback we have from people after the ad valorem tax failed is, ‘Well, we need a city system.’ Well, our people need to see the cost of that and understand why it has not occurred. Tonight’s study did show you that it’s not dire effects for the county, but the city’s going to have to put up a tremendous amount of money to make that happen. Let’s all band together and let’s find a solution together to solve these problems.
Woodfin said he will no longer advocate for any ad valorem tax increases to fund the school system.
Autaugaville School is due to close permanently at the end of this school year, partially due to budget issues as well as declining enrollment.
