Vote on school tax continuance

On March 11, a special election will be held in the City of Vestavia Hills allowing residents to decide what portion of their future property taxes are used for local schools.

Currently, $2.56 on every $100 of taxable property is being levied for use in the public schools by the Vestavia Hills Board of Education. Voters will determine whether $1.05 of the $2.56 will continue indefinitely.

In a 1990 election, the public voted to continue levying the tax through October 2017. At the request of the Board of Education, the Council proposes to continue to levy the tax annually beginning in October 2018 with no time limit. 

According to the Vestavia Hills Board of Education website, the existing tax represents $6.3 million of annual revenue, which is equivalent to 84 teacher units. According to the Board, failure to renew the existing tax could result in larger class sizes, program elimination, obsolete technology, deteriorating facilities and insufficient cash reserves.

Voting locations are Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, Liberty Park Baptist Church, Town Village Vestavia Hills, Horizon Church, Mountaintop Community Church and Cahaba Heights Community and Senior Citizens Center.

Voting will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Absentee ballots are also available. For more information, visit vhal.org or call the City at 978-0100.