A proposed property tax increase to fund a major expansion of the Baldwin County School System drew sharp disagreement at a recent county commission meeting, with opponents accusing school officials of withholding financial information and supporters warning that classrooms can’t keep pace with the county’s growth.
The March 31 special election asks voters to approve an additional 8 mills of property tax, along with renewing an existing 7 mills, to help fund a $350 million, 10-year school construction and expansion program. Baldwin County Schools Superintendent Robbie Owen and Chief Financial Officer John Wilson defended the plan during a public hearing in Bay Minette, arguing that enrollment growth in one of Alabama’s fastest-growing counties leaves the district little choice but to build.
Critics who spoke during the hearing said they don’t trust school system leadership and called for a halt to the referendum until more financial details are shared publicly. Some residents asked commissioners to request a forensic audit of the school system before any vote takes place. One Foley resident said solutions should include pausing the process entirely and giving the public a fuller picture of the proposal’s costs and benefits.
Several opponents voiced frustration over the tax burden itself, arguing that virtually everything they own is already taxed and that they feel pressured to approve more spending in the name of their children’s education. Others pushed back on comparisons to counties with higher millage rates, arguing it isn’t fair to point to places like Jefferson County or Huntsville, where property tax rates run considerably higher than Baldwin County’s.
Baldwin County’s current rate of 12 mills would rise to 20 mills if the referendum passes, still below Mobile’s city tax rate of 29.5 mills and the county’s rate of 21.5 mills, according to officials. Wilson said Baldwin County’s rate remains among the lowest in the state even with the proposed increase, and pushed back on suggestions that the district has been secretive about its finances, saying the numbers are publicly available.
Questions also surfaced about how the district has used roughly $2.8 million in BP oil spill settlement funds, which officials said has not yet been allocated to a specific project. Some residents also criticized the district’s Digital Renaissance technology initiative, a multimillion-dollar program launched under a previous superintendent, as an example of spending that added to public skepticism about the district’s financial priorities.
Despite the pointed exchanges, commissioners took no action to halt the referendum or require an audit before the vote, leaving the decision squarely in the hands of Baldwin County voters heading into the March 31 election. The outcome is expected to shape how the rapidly growing county addresses overcrowded schools for years to come.