Residents show support for expanding use of half-cent tax revenue

A town hall meeting Wednesday night had an overwhelming majority of residents in support of giving more flexibility to the use of the half-cent sales tax for schools.

Excess revenue from the half-cent sales tax enacted in 2009 to pay down the state school bond for James Clemens High School has the City Council looking at expanding the use of the revenue.

The extra revenue from half-cent sales tax “legally may be used for educational needs,” said Madison City Schools Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler. “The money puts us in the position to discuss BRAC.”

The half-cent sales tax was put in place to last 17 years and only pay for “bricks and mortar.”

Fowler stressed, “We’re not asking for an elongation of the tax.” Fowler would like to use the extra revenue for school operations by taking advantage of a loan offered by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

Only half of the BRAC loan would have to be paid back. “We’re eligible at this time for 20 to 25 million (dollars),” Fowler said.

Over 20 people from the audience spoke at the town hall meeting, including current and previous elected officials.

Almost everyone was in favor of using excess funds to help support school operations.

David Hergenroeder, whose family was recently named the 2012 Madison Family of the Year, was one of the many who spoke in favor of giving flexibility to the excess funds. “He’s used the money wisely in the past,” Hergenroeder said in support Fowler.

Resident Tom Scovill spoke against using excess money for anything but paying off James Clemens. He said they would be “reneging” on their promise in 2009 if they used excess funds for something else.

Don Palmer, who recently ran for mayor but lost to Troy Trulock, said he thinks the sales tax rate in Madison is too high to be competitive with Huntsville. The sales tax rate in Madison is at 8.5 percent and Huntsville’s is at 8 percent. He is in favor of taxing property more, and taxing sales less.