Franklin County BOE requests County Commission to set election to renew 4.5 mill school tax

The Franklin County Board of Education approved a resolution requesting the Franklin County Commission to call an election to allow residents to consider renewal of the county’s special district school tax.

The board took the action at its July 21st business meeting.

If the Franklin County Commission does make the request, Franklin County voters would decide whether to renew a 4.5 mill tax based on each dollar of the assessed value of property.

In layman’s terms, 4.5 mills means a 45-cent tax per $100 of the assessed value of any property subject to the tax.

And the Board is asking the Franklin County Commission when it drafts the referendum to consider the tax be levied annually for a 30-year period.

Franklin voters approved a 30-year 4.5 mill tax in 1996, so with that tax expiring, voters must approve a renewal to reinstate the tax.

Similar referendums in Walker County and Russell County failed in the May 19, 2026 primary. Walker County voters rejected two proposals to renew what were existing property taxes devoted to the county school system by more than a 2-1 margin.

Walker County Board of Education members said the failed renewal will make it difficult for the school district to comply with the state’s requirement that a local school system maintain a 10-mill level of local school support.

Traditionally, Franklin County voters have been supportive of educational referendums, including the one-cent sales tax, which is earmarked for 75% to benefit local schools, and 25% going to the Franklin County Commission for road/bridge infrastructure.

Similar local sales tax referendums to benefit schools have failed in a number of Alabama counties, including Lawrence County.

In other agenda items at the BOE’s July 21st meeting, the board:

—approved Phillip Willingham as Contracted Certified Driver’s Education Teacher at Phil Campbell High School and Franklin County Career Tech Center.

—approved an increase in the mileage rate reimbursement for individuals traveling in privately owned vehicles on official school business from 72.5 cents to 76 cents per mile to reflect the State of Alabama increase.

The next regular meeting of the Franklin County Board of Education will be Tuesday, August 4th, with work session at 4 p.m., and meeting to follow.