Voters in the City of Russellville overwhelmingly approved a 30-year renewal of the 4.5 mill ad valorem school tax Tuesday, and support from Russellville voters also carried the countywide 5.5 mill school tax renewal across the finish line.
With all city boxes reporting, the 4.5 mill City of Russellville school tax received 1,288 votes in favor with 706 voting against the renewal.
With all precincts having reported across the county, the 5.5 mill countywide school tax saw 3,584 votes in favor, while 3,358 voted against the 30-year renewal.
This means that Russellville City Schools will continue to receive the 10 mill property tax for the next 30 years. Voters won’t consider the renewal again until 2056.
The news couldn’t have been better for Russellville City Schools officials, starting with Superintendent of Education Tim Guinn.
“I’d like to thank all those in our community and Franklin County who took time out of their day to vote in support ofthe 30 year renewal of the Ad Valorem tax, both the 4.5 district and the 5.5 county wide,” Guinn said.
“This is a testament to our commitment to the children of our county and cities and an investment in their future.A strong and educated population gives rise to a strong and educated community where businesses and opportunities can flourish so our children do not have to move away to find work worthy of their education and skill set. In this united commitment we are changing the future of our county and cities, one student at a time,” Guinn added.
The 4.5 mill Russellville tax goes completely to Russellville City Schools, while the countywide 5.5 mill tax is distributed proportionately based on the Average Daily Membership (enrollment) of the two school systems.
Russellville City Schools’ current enrollment is 2,478 compared to approximately 3,300 in Franklin County Schools, meaning RCS receives 42.8% of the countywide 5.5 mill tax with Franklin County Schools receiving 57.2% according to those enrollment numbers.
This was a subject of much debate among Franklin County voters outside of the Russellville City Limits, as a growing number in the final days before the election voiced their intentions to vote against the tax renewals because they felt Russellville was receiving a disparate amount of the countywide tax.
As for the Franklin County 4.5 mill school tax renewal, it failed with 2,622 voting No and 2,386 voting Yes, representing a 52.36%/47.64% margin.
The 4.5 mill tax that was defeated by Franklin County voters goes 100% to Franklin County Schools.
Franklin County voters overwhelmingly passed Local Amendment One, which will now authorize a qualified Franklin County taxpayer 65 years of age or older to claim a senior property tax exemption for real property under certain conditions.
It received 6,619 yes votes and 650 no votes, for a passing percentage of 91%/9%.
Franklin County voters supported Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s bid to become Alabama’s next governor at a much higher percentage than Tuberville’s statewide margin of victory. Tuberville received 5,597 votes to Democrat Doug Jones’ 2,365, a 70%/30% margin.
Congressman Robert Aderholt received 75% of the vote in Franklin County in his reelection bid for Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District.
Franklin voters supported Republican Barry Moore’s bid to fill Tuberville’s United States Senate seat by a 75%/25% margin over Democrat Everett Wess.
District Six State Senator Larry Stutts garnered70% of Franklin County’s vote as he defeated Democrat Bobby Martin.
There were 4,164 straight party Republican votes and 1,472 voted the straight Democratic Party ticket among the 8,077 ballots cast in Franklin County.