Without Limestone taxes, MCS facing cuts

Dr. Dee Fowler, Superintendent of Madison City Schools. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – The Madison City Schools (MCS) district faces possible budget cuts because of the Limestone County tax issue.

On May 18 at 5:30 p.m., Madison City Council and Madison Board of Education will convene for a joint work session at Central Office, 211 Celtic Drive to discuss the concerns.

In addition, Madison City Council of PTAs will host a brownbag lunch at Central Office at noon on May 20. PTA leaders will work with residents to raise awareness about the taxes.

Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler issued a district-wide letter on May 4 explaining the history and related problems about the taxes.

“We have 1,800-plus students whose parents live in Madison City, Limestone County,” Fowler said. “Those residents pay a countywide 5.5 mil ad valorem tax collected for … education. Additionally, they pay two cents sales tax … for education.”

“MCS receive no money from these taxes,” Fowler said. Before this year, Madison County paid countywide sales tax and property tax for these students. “This year, neither county is paying … resulting in a loss of more than $1.7 million in revenue.”

“This is real money, and we have amended our budget to reflect the loss. This will result in a deficit year, having more expenditures than revenue,” Fowler said.

“Cutting $1.7 million out of our budget is not going to be pretty. Your board of education met … April 21 to discuss potential cuts,” Fowler said. “No decisions have been made but their desire is that the cuts be across the board. The reductions will be felt in the arts, athletics and academic programs.”

Proposed reductions include cuts to incentive pay of athletic and academic team sponsors; number of “board-paid supplements” for athletic coaches, choral and band sponsors and academic sponsors; Central Office employees; Central Office department heads’ budgets; and teachers.

Fowler said “many to all” proposed cuts must be implemented to resolve the situation.

Fowler urges Madison residents to contact legislators and City Council members; Limestone residents can contact their county commissioner and legislator. Rep. Mike Ball has introduced the “Student and Taxpayer Fairness Act” bill that “would help to resolve the problem,” Fowler said.