The last few weeks have been a whirlwind since officially kicking off the ad valorem school tax referendum with a joint press conference. While we’ve been working on this project for quite some time now, it feels good to finally be able to showcase all the hard work of so many behind the scenes and get the opportunity to share with our stakeholders about the financial cliff that we are facing very soon under the district’s current model. Autauga County Schools ranks 128 out of 138 school systems in the state when totaling all funding: federal, state, and local monies.
It’s time. It’s time to tell our students, faculty and staff, and families that we fully support them. It’s time to stop wearing the “look at how much we do with what little we have” badge of honor that we’ve been known for over the last several decades. It’s well past time to invest in our students’ futures with a long-term financial model that focuses on student success. We are planning to do just that beginning on November 6 – the day following the general election. Our model will change either way the voters of Autauga County cast their ballots, but our resolve to continue educating future community and business leaders will remain the same under either model chosen by the people of our community.
We are working diligently to inform every registered voter of the facts related to this campaign. It clearly explains what we can do with a yes vote and what may be at stake with a no vote. Some believe we are promoting scare tactics, but the reality is that everything on the no side is partially funded with local dollars, and anything locally funded is at risk of being affected in some way. Local funding is the only source of funding that isn’t largely earmarked, so they are the only dollars we have the flexibility to move where needed to make the budget work.
Over the last year, we’ve been fortunate to renovate many buildings, overhaul fine art and athletic supplements, add some teaching units, and expand class offerings at all schools because we received an unexpected $10 million from the state. These additional funds have allowed us to take care of items that have been on a wishlist for many years, but they are not guaranteed from year to year. If we knew we would receive this money annually, we would not request an ad valorem school tax referendum.
I encourage you to do the research, attend the school community meetings, ask your questions, and advocate for what you believe is best for our system. Your voice matters in this democratic process! As we plan for the future of Autauga County Schools, your input matters. Please read more at ACBOE.net/advalorem and share it with others as we work to ensure that every voter has access to this information to make an informed choice.
Lyman Woodfin is a 18-year veteran of the school system having served as a classroom teacher, coach, and school administrator. He is married to Staci and they have five children who attend school in the district.
