Dec. 12 election to decide Madison’s property tax for schools
MADISON – Along with choosing a U.S. senator, voters in Madison will decide about continuing the city’s 4-mill property tax to fund Madison City Schools in the Dec. 12 special election.
In addition, voters will accept or reject to continue two countywide school property tax measures.
“The 4-mill District 3 levy (District 3 corresponds to Madison city limits) is set to expire unless Madison City residents vote to renew it. The levy applies to property and currently generates $2.5 million a year for Madison City Schools. The cost of 4 mills to homeowners is $40 per $100,000 value on their home, or about $3.33 per month,” MCS Public Relations Manager John S. Peck said.
Recently, Madison Board of Education approved a resolution asking to call an election on renewal of this tax. Madison County Commission directed that the District 3 (which correlates to Madison) tax renewal be included on the Dec. 12 special election ballot.
The official notice for the special election states, “The boundaries of School District No. 3 are coterminous with the corporate limits of (and the said district includes all area lying within) the City of Madison in Madison County.” Paraphrased, this passage states that borders for Madison County’s District 3 are the same as the city limits of Madison.
In addition, the Dec. 12 referendum will include two countywide school property tax measures. One tax is a 4-mill countywide ad valorem renewal. The other tax is a 1.5-mill countywide renewal.
Proceeds from the countywide levies are split among all three school districts in Madison County.
The 4-mill countywide tax generates approximately $2.9 million yearly for Madison City Schools, and the 1.5-mill countywide tax generates about $1.1 million annually for MCS. Altogether, the Madison district has about $6.5 million in current annual revenue at stake in the Dec. 12 election.
To continue these countywide school taxes, the annual cost to property owners in Madison to continue is $95 per year per $100,000 of assessed value, or less than $8 per month.
On the ballot, voters will vote “For” or “Against” each of the three ad valorem renewals for schools.
Officials have posted formal notices of the 4-mill ad valorem tax measure for the City of Madison at Madison City Hall, Madison Public Library, Madison Senior Center, Dublin Park, Madison Fire Station no. 1 and MCS Central Office.
