Everyone that knows me realizes I am a “far right wing” person.

But, this is one TAX that I feel we should support.

Vote “Yes” for the temporary school tax.

About the 1 cent Temporary Sales Tax

On March 23, a referendum (vote) will be held for a temporary(1) one cent school tax. As you may know, the Baldwin County school system has worked diligently to cut expenses over the past three years to make up for shortfalls from the State of Alabama that have equalled well over $61 Million dollars.

These cuts have included the closings of two schools, cutting over 400 jobs (including an 18% decrease in central office staff), the halting of all construction projects, and cuts to art programs, band programs, sports programs, and special education programs. We've been forced to move forward with larger classroom sizes (student:teacher ratios) no funding for classroom materials, and fewer cafeteria workers and custodians. Teachers, principals, and parents can be seen on the grounds during and after long days of teaching and on weekends cutting grass, emptying garbage cans, painting hallways, and serving lunches. The system has been forced to keep an antiquated block schedule in our high schools because of the lack of money for textbooks. We are continuously expected by the state to meet the regulations of more and more mandates with less and less funding, all while educating 1000's of additional students every year.

The State of Alabama has already strongly indicated to the Baldwin County School system that additional cuts (in the form of Pro-ration) can be expected in the coming years as well. What can we do? What else can be cut? As Mr. Moore, my fellow Foley school board representative stated so eloquently, "We have cut the fat, and now the muscle. There's nothing left to cut but the bone."

I was elected to this position because of the trust you have placed in me to represent and to educate our children. I see you at the ball games, at the schools on parent night, and at the grocery store. I have sworn to you to be a good steward of your tax dollars and to provide our children the future they deserve. This being said, I can tell you, this temporary sales tax is crucial to our schools' survival. (Not success, survival). Without additional revenues, we will likely face additional school closings, loss of additional jobs including central office positions, teachers, assistant principals, and additional cuts to art, band, sports programs, and technology.

"What can I do?", you ask. With this letter, I have provided some answers to frequently asked questions, and some guidelines on what individuals can do who want to be involved. Your involvement is welcome, whatever your comfort level. Just remember our children's faces when you need inspiration to speak out or voice your opinion. They deserve our best efforts!

Frequently asked questions:

1) Will my temporary 1 cent sales tax dollars be distributed to other counties in the state through equity funding?

No. Only the ad valorem tax (property taxes) are affected by equity funding. 100% of the 1 cent sales tax stays in Baldwin County.

2) How will the temporary sales tax dollars be used?

All revenues and spending will be carefully reviewed and evaluated by staff AND the board according to need. The first order of business will be paying outstanding debts for fixed expenses such as utilities, buildings maintenance, etc. The current deficit equals about $13million. The first year of revenue is expected to reach about $25million. Without the temporary tax increase, this $13Million deficit will have to be made up by cutting positions and programs and closing schools. The intent of the referendum is to eliminate the need to cut additional teacher positions, and eliminate the need to close additional schools, as well as restore valuable art, band, and sports programs, as well as AP courses and technical programs that keep our kids in school and motivate them to graduate and achieve at the highest possible level. The loss of these programs could also cause us to lose the system-wide accreditation that has taken upwards of two years and countless man-hours to achieve.

In addition, If the penny tax does not pass the school system will be deeper "in the red", accumulating debt that will take years to overcome: approx. $5 million at the end of the 2009-10 school year, approx. $17 million at the end of 2011-12 and approx. $31 million at the end of 2012-13.

The additional revenues will also help us to fill needs in critical positions that already exist like nurses, special education aids, and core teacher positions where student ratios are 35-40+ students per 1 teacher. Since the tax increase is temporary, it is also crucial to rebuild the system's reserve fund in order to protect ourselves from deeper state cuts and a long-term recession. As I said before, our goal is survival.

3) Have our tax dollars been wasted by the Baldwin County School System? Why do we find ourselves in this position?

This is a funding problem, not a spending problem.

In the past 5 years, the Baldwin County School system has been charged with educating the students of this county while meeting the needs of exponential growth in student population. Because of this exponential growth and the desire to offer our children an education that exceeds state standards (the state of Alabama ranks 48^th in the country in education) revenues were poured into the construction of new schools to accommodate our growth, remodeling of older, antiquated schools to accommodate growth and create a better learning environment, additional Advanced Placement courses, technology courses, foreign languages that help our young students compete nationally for college admissions, scholarships, and jobs, and enrichment programs such as Art, Drama, Music, and Sports which have helped to keep our kids in school and challenged rather than on the streets.

In 2007-2008, when sales tax numbers and property values began to decline, the system immediately took action by cutting back central office positions by 18% and by cutting over 100 employees. In August, 2008, state officials warned that we would likely experience a 3-6% pro-ration and that budgets should be set accordingly. A budget was submitted and approved by the state that accommodated for a 6% pro-ration (the proposed worst case scenario). Contracts were signed and teacher positions were hired and locked in for the year (through May). By December, 2008, Gov. Riley declared 12% pro-ration, double the rate anticipated, which meant that state funding would be drastically decreased, yet salaries and contracts were already "fixed", leaving the system with no choice but to scramble to find other means of cutting expenses in a short period of time. The fund balance (or reserve fund) was quickly depleted in order to pay salaries, contracts, and expenses that were already locked in. By 2009, our Baldwin County system, already struggling due to funding cuts and operating with a $0 reserve was told to expect an additional 6% decrease in state funding (pro-ration) for the 2008-2009 school year, which resulted in massive lay-offs (over 300 additional positions in central office and schools), the removal of funding to schools for classroom materials, larger classroom sizes, the closing of two schools, and the discontinuation several art, band, and sports programs across the county.

In a number of joint meetings with the Baldwin County Commissioners, the school system's books were opened for review, comment, and suggestion. The commission was asked for advice as to where they might see opportunities for additional cuts to expenses, or opportunities for additional revenue. With a clear picture of the school system's accounting practices, all were in agreement that all possible and necessary steps had been taken to improve the schools' financial status. Further steps, it was agreed would surely put the quality of Baldwin County education at risk.

4) Will the tax really be TEMPORARY?

Yes. The tax increase will exist for a period of 36 months as stated in the language of the referendum. It is NOT in the power of the County Commissioners OR the School Board to extend or renew the tax.

5) If I am a teacher or school employee, am I allowed to campaign for the tax according to school board policy?

Yes. The referendum was initialized by the Baldwin County School Board and is backed by the school board, therefore, school board employees are legally and ethically allowed to openly support the campaign.

6) How does the 1 cent sales tax relate to me in "real life"?

The one cent sales tax means that you will pay an additional $1.00 for every $100. purchase. For instance, if you spend $100 on groceries this week, it's equivalent to buying a bottled water on the way out the door for the drive home. (A small price to pay for the education of 27,000+ students in Baldwin County).

7) Why do we need clubs, sports, band, and art? What's wrong with teaching the three R's like we did when I was in school?

First of all, it's a very different world out there from when we were in school. The lightning speed in the changes in technology keep our educators on their toes. They constantly need new ways to reach their students who are used to sending and receiving messages and communications instantly and are quickly reduced to boredom by the lectures and blackboards we were so familiar with in school. Our students are constantly bombarded with the negative messages of the outside world through television, the internet, and the "rock star" role models that teach and preach a "me" society with little regard for teamwork, work ethic, or morals and values.

Simply said, the three R's are simply are not enough any more. Our kids need activities, challenges, a sense of belonging in addition to the home. Many of our children have challenging family lives, and struggle financially, personally and emotionally. We (the communities, teachers, administrators, coaches, and the school system) are charged with helping ALL children success. From the brightest to the neediest, all children deserve a chance for a bright future, and it is up to us as a community to provide it. If we take away, art, band, sports, clubs, etc., what will keep them in school? What will challenge them to do well in the classroom? Where will they learn how to be a team? How to be a leader? How to help others? How to create? How to use their talents to make the world a better place? The loss of extra-curricular activities and the Arts and Sports equal soaring drop-out rates. Life lessons are learned on the field, on the court. Coaches, Art Teachers, and Music Teachers inspire our young people to explore their inner talents. Language teachers inspire them to explore a world they have never seen. Literature teachers, Science teachers, and History teachers inspire our young students to look outside their own environment, to see things in a different way, to learn from the past. Math teachers show them that what they learn today will follow them throughout their entire lives. We MUST educate the "whole" child. Which part of their education are you willing to give up?