09/24/2024
Today the residents of Tuscaloosa City need to go the polls and vote on the proposed tax referendum. I want to share some information and insights; however, I will not share how I am voting or tell anyone else how to vote (unless you ask me directly).
I asked several questions of our tax assessor and the questions and responses are attached. I want to be as transparent and truthful as possible, but please know that my insights are my opinion alone.
Below are some questions that I've been asked personally and my responses.
1. Did the superintendent get a raise of over $50,000
Response: Yes, it was voted on and approved by the city school board.
My opinion: If I (or anyone else) were offered a 50K raise, I would gladly accept it. If you have a problem with Dr. Daria's raise, you don't have a problem with Dr. Daria, you have a problem with the school board!
2. What is the exact amount that taxes will be raised?
Response: Please refer to the attached for exact amounts.
My opinion: If passed, the proposed tax referendum will be in ADDITION to the already newly assessed property value done by the tax assessor's office. Also, you can expect your car tags to go up as well. My issue with this is, most people can not afford to pay the newly assessed value AND the amount from the tax referendum if passed. This WILL RESULT IN TAX LEIN FORECLOSURES for some and the idea of someone losing their home over unpaid taxes is simply sickening to me.
Another issue that I have is people in low economic areas will be impacted the hardest and this can lead to GENTRIFICATION of these areas. Gentrification is the process whereby the character of a poor urban area is changed by wealthier people moving in, improving housing, and attracting new businesses, typically displacing current inhabitants in the process. Now the idea of improving an area doesn't necessarily have to be bad for an area, however, with gentrification, the original residents are pushed out because they can no longer afford to live in the area.
Question 3: Did TCS spend MILLIONS on jumbotrons that are being hid because they do not want taxpayers to see them until after the vote?
Response: No one would confirm or deny the expenditure
My opinion: The fact that it wasn't denied is suspect to me.
Question 4: Is the tax increase truly equivalent to the cost of one coffee a day?
Response: Could be, but depends on where you buy your coffee!
My opinion: To minimize the cost that way is kind of misleading. I occasionally buy Starbucks but I know I can not afford to go to Starbucks everyday. Besides, I mainly make my coffee at home because it too expensive.
Question 5: Will my utilities go up if the tax referendum does not pass?
Response: So the City of Tuscaloosa has already passed a water bill increase that will be approximately $18. However, no utilities will be raised as a result of the failed tax referendum.
Question 6: What are some suggestions to assist the school system if the proposed tax referendum fails?
My opinion: The City of Tuscaloosa needs to invest more money into our city schools. We can find money for parks, that the city did not have to take over in the first place and we have money for the Saban Center, but when TSC came to the city council for additional funding it was denied. Now you'll hear how much the city already does, but it still isn't enough, especially when there are creditable studies that directly correlate youth violence (which Tuscaloosa has), with the quality of the areas educational system.
The city could have imposed an additional Convenience Sales Tax to sales during the weekends of Alabama home games and it would easily generate the needed funds. For example, this weekend, Tuscaloosa can expect over THREE MILLION visitors to our city. If we had a Convenience Tax in place, we could easily generate the needed funds from that one game alone! PERIODT
Question 6: Will renters have to pay additional taxes if the proposed tax referendum passes.
Response: Yes and No. While non-property owner do not pay taxes, they do pay rent and rest assured, if this tax referendum passes, landlords WILL pass the additional taxes on to the tenants. And that means your rent will go up to cover the increase imposed by the tax referendum. Also, remember that car tags will increase as well, so renters with cars will have that increase as well.
My opinion: In Tuscaloosa's ;lowest economic area, roughly 80% of the residents are renters. The majority of these people are already struggling to make ends meet. Should this tax referendum passes, and their rent increases to cover the additional taxes, most will be forced to move, and the people advocating for tax increase are not going to be able to help them find alternative affordable housing because it doesn't exist at the level of the need.
Question 7: Is it true that property taxes haven't increase since the 1980s:
Response: Yes; however, the value of house in the 1980s is not the same value of that house today. In 1984, the city schools collected less than 3 MILLION DOLLARS in property taxes, HOWEVER, in 2023, the city schools collected over 27 MILLION DOLLARS from property taxes.
My opinion: My concern is not whether the school need additional funds. I'm concern about the impact to our elderly, disabled, and low or fixed income residents. Also those living check to check. I think alternative ways of increasing the needed funds should have been explored before burdening residents with additional property taxes.
If anyone wants to discuss any information I've provided, please feel free to call me at (205) 887-3701. But fair warning, DO NOT CALL ME TO VOICE YOUR OPINION OR TO CRITIQUE MINE. Let your voice be heard at the polls!!!!
