By Alabama Public Radio
Shelby County – Shelby County residents voted a resounded "no" in the county's property tax referendum yesterday.
The proposed 9-mil increase would have funded a 150 million dollar capital improvement plan for local schools, which are faced with fast rising student population numbers. However, the increase was defeated by a 73-27 percent margin. Shelby County school Superintendent Evan Major says the outcome will mean more portable classrooms, larger class sizes and program cuts.
Statewide, local tax proposals have met mixed results since September, when voters killed Governor Bob Riley's plan to increase revenue and make Alabama's tax system more equitable. Since then, Escambia County voters approved their first tax increase in nearly 80 years. But voters in Tallapoosa, Marshall and Chilton counties voted against raising their taxes.