CULLMAN, Ala. – Debate has been fierce and rumors have swirled since a 1-cent tax proposed by the Cullman County Board of Education (CCBOE) was placed on the March 3 primary ballot. If passed, approximately 77% of the revenues (based on 2019 student figures) would go to Cullman County Schools for a collection of projects (www.cullmantribune.com/2019/10/25/where-would-the-1-cent-tax-money-go/), 21% to Cullman City Schools, and roughly 2% would go to the city system in Arab where, by agreement between that system and the CCBOE, a handful of students from extreme northeast Cullman County are allowed to attend.
Among the circulating rumors is a claim that the City of Cullman is opposing the proposed 1-cent tax, with plans to have the Cullman City Council vote in an exclusive tax for city schools as soon as the county tax is voted down in March, if the measure is rejected. The Tribune asked Mayor Woody Jacobs and Cullman City Council President Jenny Folsom on the record if the City has plans for its own tax.
The mayor’s initial answer was simple and to the point: “No.”
Jacobs went on to say, “The council would be the one to do it, and there’s been no talk from the council about putting a tax in. In the work sessions or any of that, there hasn’t been any talk about putting a tax in.”
He explained that he was sure “There’s some of the people that would want the City to do that, but the City has not considered it. They (Cullman City Schools representatives) haven’t come to us and asked us to do it.”
Folsom told The Tribune, “I can tell you truthfully: we as a council-and there are five of us that can vote on the council; I’m just one-but we have not discussed a city tax at all. We’ve heard the speculation that we’re going to do that. It has not been mentioned; that is not on the table in any way. And the city school board, the superintendent or the school board, they have not come to us to ask for that, so we have not entertained that at all.”
Folsom said that she understands that people like to speculate about what is going on behind the scenes in government and noted that claims of a City “plot” could help get votes in favor of the proposed 1-cent tax.
Neither Jacobs nor Folsom voiced an opinion for or against the proposed 1-cent tax.
“I know the county and the city schools both need additional monies,” said Folsom, “but my thinking is: just see what happens in March for the election.”
While the CCBOE has been actively engaging the community through town hall-type meetings around the county, the Cullman City School Board has been quiet on the matter.
Cullman City Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan Patterson on Monday sent the following statement to The Tribune: “On Behalf of The Cullman City School Board, the Board has conducted a demographic and facility study in an effort to develop a 10-year plan for Cullman City Schools. The board also recently approved the sale of bonds for the purpose of financing upcoming capital projects to accommodate growth in the school system. Cullman City Board of Education has not established a formal position in regards to the proposed sales tax and how it will affect Cullman City Schools.”
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