A Tuscaloosa City Schools property tax increase failed by a 47%-53% margin, according to unofficial election results on Tuesday.
The tax hike would have raised Tuscaloosa taxpayers' ad valorem tax rates by 11.5 mills, or $345 annually, for a property with an appraised value of $300,000.
According to unofficial results, 5,099 voted in favor of the tax increase, and 5,704 voted against it.
A spokesperson for Tuscaloosa City Schools said on Facebook after the results were announced, "We sincerely appreciate our community's consideration and everyone who voted on the referendum today. We have learned that the measure fell short of being approved by a majority of voters, by 5.6%."
"While we feel as though we presented the right plan for our system at this time and are disappointed in the results, we're grateful for all of the valuable conversations we've had over the past several months," the spokesperson said. "We recognize that our financial needs remain, and district leaders, along with the Board of Education, will now work to make the financial adjustments required over the next two years as we draw down on our reserves. School programs may look a little different in the future, but as always, we are fully committed to giving the children of Tuscaloosa the best education possible. Thank you for supporting the Tuscaloosa City Schools."
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