$1.4M at risk during November tax votes

RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville City Schools could lose about $1.4 million annually if voters do not renew two existing taxes.

Chief Financial Officer Lisa Witt said the General Election votes involve a $5.5 million countywide school tax shared with Franklin County Schools, and a $4.5 million city school tax with proceeds going entirely to RCS.

“We’re talking about $1.4 million a year,” Witt said of the amount of revenue city schools could lose. “It’s a lot of money.”

Witt said board members should keep the upcoming renewal votes in mind as they discuss future projects and spending plans.

“I’d love to see it just quietly pass, and it might,” Witt said. “But I think we have to realistically think about what we’re spending.”

Witt said some communities have recently faced organized opposition to tax renewals.

She said the district is working with attorney Kane Burnett as board members prepare for the renewal process.

Witt said a $7.8 million tax that renewed in 2015 will not be part of the upcoming vote because it was renewed for 30 years.

She said the county commission and school board likely will have procedural steps to complete before the two tax measures can appear on the ballot. Witt said the board likely will continue discussing the renewal process during work sessions in June or July.

“As far as the overall financials, there is nothing major that I need to tell you,” Witt said. “Financially, we’re in good shape.”

She said the district expects a 2% raise through the state foundation program next year along with higher group health insurance costs.

Witt said the district is losing funding tied to about three teacher units, or state-funded positions based on enrollment calculations, though she described the impact as manageable.

She said the district recently received an additional $150,000 in funding tied to English learner, atrisk and gifted allocations, which could help offset some of those losses.