Voters in Athens have defeated a school tax proposal by a wide margin.
Residents rejected a 12-mill tax increase yesterday by a margin of 64 percent to 36 percent. They also turned down a proposed bond issue for school construction.
The new property tax would have funded capital projects worth more than $70 million for Athens city schools.
Superintendent Trey Holladay says the system now must find a different way to move ahead with school renovations and new buildings.
Voters in several other school districts have rejected tax increases for public schools in recent months.
The Republican presidential hopefuls continue their march through Alabama.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush was in Birmingham this morning. Last night, the Tuscaloosa County G-O-P hosted Texas Senator Ted Cruz at their annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner.
Cruz continued his tough stance on illegal immigration. He played up his collaboration with an Alabama senator …
“I stood shoulder to shoulder with Alabama’s own Jeff Sessions and the two of us together, we defeated that amnesty program in congress and I would note of the other presidential candidates, they were not to be found in that fight.”
Cruz went on to say southern states will play a major role in deciding who will be the Republican nominee for president. Alabama’s Republican primary is scheduled for March 8th.
This week, the country is marking the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
The massive storm devastated communities along the Gulf Coast and caused billions of dollars in damage. Alabama’s fishing community of Bayou le Batre was hit hard.
Wendy Spencer is the CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. She says disasters like Katrina and the BP oil spill have made Alabama’s aid organizations stronger.
“They’re better positioned to handle disasters in the future. They have a continuity of operation plan. They know how to mitigate, they know how to engage volunteers better, to prepare for disasters better. The whole social sector is much better prepared as a result of that.”
Spencer says volunteers have served over ten million hours in response and long-term recovery after Hurricane Katrina.