Tourist Dollars Could Help Baldwin Schools

Sales are up this summer at many businesses on Pleasure Island. The summer tourist season was a profitable one.

"Our June numbers are in and we saw about a two percent increase in tourist expenditures," says Herb Malone with the Alabama Gulf Coast Tourism and Visitor's Bureau."

An increase in local tax revenue could spell relief for the Baldwin County Board of Education. The district is facing a 56 million dollar budget shortfall and recently announced a reduction in force policy. Nearly 200 school support staff employees could lose their jobs by the end of the month.

A profitable tourist season is certainly good news for the school system, but will it be enough to bail out the struggling district?

"Over 90 percent of our revenue comes from the state and local funds so it will take some time to recover, but it's good news that the cash registers are ringing," says Terry Wilhite, school spokesman. "There's a delay from the time it gets into the cash register into our school coffers, but we appreciate every cent that's spent."