By Associated Press
Limestone County AL – Limestone County voters turned down a proposed 1-cent sales tax for schools that would have funded capital needs, such as new elementary schools and gyms.
The sales tax would have gone to 9 percent in Athens and to 7 percent in the county had it passed. City leaders spoke against the tax, saying it would hurt businesses because Athens would have a higher tax than Huntsville or Madison. City and county residents voted against it.
The Limestone County Board of Education proposed the tax. The county schools would have gotten about 75 percent of the revenue and Athens City Schools the remainder.
"The people had the opportunity to say whether our children are worth an extra penny," Limestone Superintendent Barry Carroll said. "They have decided that's not the case."
The county would have used the money to fund a $50 million bond issue. The city would have used it for capital needs, such as renovations and an athletic complex for Athens High School.
Carroll said the $7.3 million the system will get from a state bond issue isn't enough to build a new school, which is expected to cost about $11 million.
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Information from: The Decatur Daily, http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/index.shtml