Tax Increase A Possibility?

The Baldwin County Board of Education has done just about everything they can do to keep the school system from financially failing....massive layoffs, cuts in curriculum and the elimination of extra curricular activities. But it hasn't been enough. Recently, school officials announced "Phase 2" in a reduction in force policy...another round of layoffs affecting the central office. To help stop the financial bleeding, board members will ask county commissioners once again to consider an emergency one cent sales tax.

"We're not a money making business," says Baldwin Co. School Supt. Dr. Faron Hollinger. "We're not a for profit entity, we simply operate on the revenues we're provided, via the state, local or federal government. We're at a critical level now, you the kind of financial hits that this system has taken over 75 million dollars less in our budget this year than year. You just don't take those kind of hits and continue to provide the quality that people have been accustomed to."

County commissioners will listen to the school board's request.

"There's some things we've got to do to help them, whether it's a tax or whatever it is to alleviate some of their concerns that they have at this point," says commissioner Charles Gruber. "We're here to work with them and we understand the situation they're in."

School officials pulled the tax hike proposal off the table back in August because of lack of support. The board will meet will county commissioners to discuss the one-cent sales tax this Friday at 9am at the commission annex in Robertsdale. The meeting is open to the public.