As Birmingham, Ala., continues to plan a referendum on a $75 million bond issue, the local school superintendent is proposing to ask voters for a tax increase, according to the Birmingham News.
Superintendent Craig Witherspoon last week asked a City Council committee to approve a referendum for a 3-mill property tax increase to raise $9 million a year for city schools.
It’s not clear if the school board plans to use the tax hike to secure bonds or warrants.
Witherspoon told the paper that proceeds would be used to expand international baccalaureate and pre-K programs.
The school referendum would appear on the same ballot as Birmingham’s request for GO bonds. The date of the referendum has not been set.
Mayor William Bell and the City Council have been studying the projects that would be funded with the bonds.
Proceeds would be secured by an existing, dedicated ad valorem tax. Voter approval is required to sell bonds secured by the tax.
The City Council at an upcoming regular meeting will decide if the school proposal will go forward.
