It came down to the last possible moment, but the final vote enabling the county to move forward with a proposed new Smithville Elementary School was approved last Friday night, January 31, after the Town of Alexandria voted to approved the extension of its sales tax agreement with the county. The issue was supposed to have been addressed at the board’s December meeting, but that meeting was canceled. The January meeting was supposed to have occurred on Tuesday, January 28, but that meeting was postponed until Thursday, then eventually Friday.
Alexandria was the last of the county’s municipalities to vote on the proposal, which will help secure bonds for the new school without having to raise property taxes. The agreement would have become void between all parties if Alexandria had not approved the extension by February 1. Smithville, Liberty and Dowelltown had already approved the extension. Smithville’s extension was conditional upon the county issuing bonds within 12 months.
Under the agreement, the towns will provide and extra third of sales tax proceeds to the county for the funding of school construction and operation. By law, the towns must contribute 50 percent of sales tax proceeds towards schools. The agreement will extend the current agreement with the county, set to expire in 2037, another 18 years. The agreement will now extend to 2055, allowing the county to secure up to $55 million in bonds for 30-year bond to fund the project.
County Mayor Matt Adcock and several county commissioners were present at the Alexandria meeting to answer any questions the board might have. Adcock addressed the board, saying, “This agreement was set in place in 1967 with all the municipalities and the county. Although they are a separate department of county government, we do approve the school budget and their debt. Any debt they accrue we have to fund. We are a funding source for the school board, but they run the school operation.
“In 1967, DeKalb County and the municipalities made an agreement to create a school sinking fund. It’s also called the Local Purpose Fund. The state statute requires that every municipality in DeKalb County provide 50 percent of their sales tax proceeds toward schools. This agreement calls for an extra one third of the sales tax to go into the school sinking fund only to be used for school construction and operation ($1.9 million budgeted annually for school operation).
“In the past we have used this money for construction of Northside Elementary. We built a storm shelter at DeKalb West School and a new cafeteria at the high school. An energy efficiency project was funded at the West School. The initial agreement between the county and cities was extended for another 30 years and the agreement we are under now runs through 2037,” said County Mayor Adcock.
DeKalb County Director of Schools Patrick Cripps also spoke at the meeting, saying, “We are outgrowing that school (SES). We actually have two second-grade classes at Northside Elementary School and we are looking at moving another one next year. Those second-grade kids are separated from their peers at Smithville Elementary because we have run out of space due to the different programs. We have had to add at Smithville Elementary to meet the individual needs of the students that are attending that school.”
There was at least one local resident who voiced opposition to the sales tax agreement. William Lambert, who lives just outside of Alexandria said, “I am here tonight as a concerned citizen of DeKalb County and a close neighbor and friend of the town of Alexandria. I have lived in this area for 20 years both here and in Smithville. My family of origin has lived here for almost 30 years. I can remember when this little town was bustling.
“I am here to ask you to retain your sales tax for local use. Everywhere I look around town I see ways revenue could be used to improve the area. Further because of our geographic proximity to Davidson and Wilson counties we could be a growth anchor for the entire county if the town invests properly. Look past today and what the future might be for this town I love so much.”
One Alexandria resident spoke out in favor of the extension and support of DeKalb County schools. “I am Mike Prichard, and I have lived in this town for 73 years. I think the county has made a good presentation. This is DeKalb County … it’s not Wilson County or Smith County. We’re DeKalb County. Our school system is all together here in DeKalb County. I would encourage the city to vote yes on this and give them the tax money like they deserve. We need a school.”
The Alexandria board voted 6-0 in favor of extending the sales tax agreement. Aldermen voting were Jeff Ford, Sherry Tubbs, Luke Prichard, Bobby Simpson, Tiffany Robinson and Jonathan Tripp.