In light of the current financial situation involving Jacksonville and our schools, I decided to find out just how our tax money was being spent in regard to education.Out of 128 school systems in the state, Jacksonville ranks 111th in the dollar amount per child given by the city. Out of the 61 city school systems Jacksonville is 60th.
In Calhoun County, there are three other city school systems — Anniston, Oxford and Piedmont. All three of those give more per child. Shame on Jacksonville’s city government for doing so little.
There are those in our city who say we do not need to keep “throwing money at the schools,” or “bailing out” the financial difficulties. I agree. We need a long-term plan that includes more funding, not just a one-time “gift” or loan.
I wonder if people would continue to move here if they knew our city government contributes such a paltry amount to our city school.
Most citizens in Jacksonville think that the additional one percent sales tax is going to fund our school. That is not the case. The city’s contribution is $120,000 cash per year and $25,000 in fire/police services.
Our schools have been short-changed by the city government for long enough. It is time the Jacksonville taxpayers, citizens and parents speak up. I urge everyone to call Mayor Smith to let him know how you feel about this matter. Let us all take consideration of our current situation when we go to vote at our next city election.
Aimee Allen-Kirk
KSES Parent, Citizen, Taxpayer
Jacksonville
Mayor Smith responds
It is tragic that funding difficulties for our school system often fragment our community rather than move us toward a long-term resolution (or at least better accommodation) of the issue.Mrs. Kirk is a concerned citizen and parent, and is horrified at the threatened loss of teachers and support personnel which will, indeed, dilute the quality of education. I share that concern. Her solution, however, is to simply put so much pressure on local city officials that they will appropriate the necessary funds, no matter how tight budgets are. As part of her argument she notes that the total annual contribution from the city to the school system is presently less than $150,000, one of the lowest in the state. And she says, “most citizens ... think the additional one percent sales tax is going to fund our schools.”
That one percent was specifically not allocated to education under the ordinance that created the additional tax. Mrs. Kirk could read the ordinance if she would come to City Hall to secure a copy in doing her “research.”
Her less than $150,000 annual contribution amount is not quite accurate, either. And then there is what she doesn’t mention. What about the approximately $12,000,000 spent by the city on the new high school and related infrastructure costs?
But despite the flaws in her “evidence,” Aimee is right. We do need to fund our schools much better in Jacksonville and perhaps we will, eventually.
Gov. Riley, after a strong anti-tax stand in Congress, has recommended a package of major tax increases for the state. He saw quickly that we cannot be what we ought to be or do what we say we want to do by resisting substantial new revenue growth. One of the usual anti-tax defenses, that we can have plenty of funding by cutting out waste, just wouldn’t wash. The governor saw the need for both a major revenue increase and stronger accountability measures, too. I agree, and we will work to be more efficient in Jacksonville, but without additional funding we’re stuck, and we cannot let that continue.
I recommend, as I have for years, that we increase local millage rates to support education, possibly a ten-mil increase. After the fate of the Riley package is known, a specific amount may be easier to determine.
We must have city officials and school leaders working together, but it will take more than that. We need the Aimee Allen-Kirks, and the Jeff Sheltons (a vocal supporter for additional funding for our schools) to work with us to secure broad support. I challenge them to work as diligently in that cause as they have in turning up the heat on the city.
Mayor Jerry L. Smith
Jacksonville
