Members of the Montgomery County Commission voted to table a vote on changing the allocation of a 1% public education sales tax at their Tuesday meeting.
The change was supported by Montgomery County Commission chairman Doug Singleton but opposed by Montgomery Public Schools.
Singleton told 1819 News in an interview in December that revenue from the 1% county sales tax currently goes 100% to Montgomery and Pike Road Schools. If his proposal were approved by the commission, 90% of the revenue would go to public schools and 10% would go to the county for health care, public safety, and economic development.
According to estimates, the tax raises about $41 million annually for education. Under the proposed change, the county would get about $4 million annually.
Singleton said at the Tuesday meeting that the change was needed to help fund the county's financial obligations.
"If we have another downturn in the economy, we have to make some tough decisions at the county on cutting staff, cutting programs. We have no option," Singleton said. "We're not talking about capping or cutting. All we're talking about is working together and sharing and letting us take 10% of that money that will go to healthcare to help us, you've already heard about Jackson Hospital today, you've already heard conversations about that. Public safety, Sheriff Cunningham talked about we've got the greatest Sheriff's Department in the world but Sheriff Cunningham needs money too. The county commission has to look at healthcare, public safety, economic development which brings jobs which will increase the ad valorem tax which funds us and school systems, quality of life for our residents, infrastructure, roads, bridges, I could go on and on."
Montgomery County Board of Education member Lesa Keith told 1819 News on Tuesday after the vote, "The County Commission voted to table the proposed 90/10 penny tax put forward by Chairman Doug Singleton. While I did not attend the meeting, today felt like a reminder that miracles never cease."
"I am deeply grateful to Superintendent Byrd, Pam Cloud, and Mary Brier for their passionate advocacy for our children, and to Commissioner Sankey, Commissioner Zeigler, and Commissioner Castanza for tabling the proposal and requesting accountability regarding Whitewater. While this issue is not going away, it is my sincere hope the County Commission will consider a more reasonable path forward. While aspects of the proposal have merit, using children's education funds to support healthcare and Whitewater is not feasible, particularly with the new initiative and partnership with Trenholm," Keith said. "I was also encouraged to learn that the $700,000 previously allocated by the Chamber has been repaid by the County Commission. Hopefully, when the penny tax is revisited, our community, MPS, and the County Commission can come together on a win-win solution that supports public education, sustains Jackson Hospital, and considers a Sheriff's Hub in downtown Montgomery."
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