By By Kerry Whipple Bean – publisher
Brewton City Schools may not have as much at stake financially in Tuesday's vote to renew a decades-old school tax, but Superintendent Lynn Smith said that, with 10 years of payments on a new middle school ahead, every penny counts for his school district.
Brewton City Schools stand to lose about $70,000 per year if a 1-mill countywide ad valorem tax renewal fails Tuesday. In a vote last fall, city voters approved a 3-mill district tax for city schools. That same tax failed among county voters.
Brewton City Schools have been planning a new middle school for the past two years, and a decision on where to build the school is nearing.
Smith said he hopes that city voters, even though the 3-mill tax renewal has already passed, will vote on Tuesday to help the 1-mill tax pass.
Smith is also pulling for county voters to go to the polls to support the district taxes for Escambia County Schools.
While schools from the two districts may compete on athletic fields, Smith said what's good for county schools academically and financially is also good for city schools.
Renewing the tax will also send a message to companies looking to relocate or expand in Escambia County, Smith said.