Voters will be electing three city council seats and deciding three ballot measures in Birmingham’s October 8 election. The three ballot measures are all property tax measures to raise revenue for Birmingham City Schools. The taxes, which were last renewed in 1991, are set to expire on September 2021.
The resolution to renew the taxes triggered the city council election. According to Alabama’s Mayor-Council Act, city council seats held by appointment are automatically placed on the next ballot. Thirteen candidates are running for three seats–District 1, 6, and 7.
The three ballot measures continue a tax that was first collected in 1951. Proposition 1 continues the 42-cent tax for public school use. Proposition 2 continues the 28-cent tax for public school operations. Proposition 3 continues the 28-cent tax for debt service of school bonds. The total tax is $0.98 per $100 of taxable property for 25 years. Birmingham City Schools reported that the tax revenue from taxes that would be renewed by the approval of the three measures is approximately $32 million per year, which is about 14 percent of the district’s budget.
The last day to register to vote is Tuesday, September 24. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is October 3. On election day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Additional reading:
https://ballotpedia.org/City_elections_in_Birmingham,_Alabama_(2019)
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