FAQs Frequently Asked Questions about

Growth, School Finances and Facility Needs in Baldwin County Why do we need to build new schools? Just how serious is Accountability is a big concern for me. What is the Board the issue of overcrowding? of Education doing to be accountable for my taxpayer Baldwin County is now the fastest growing county in the state. dollars? Nowhere is that fact more apparent than in our public schools – The Division of Business and Finance provides a wide range where enrollment has increased by 25% over the past 10 years. of up-to-date, comprehensive records on our website at To accommodate the influx of new students and other shifts in www.bcbe.org including: facility needs, approximately 100 portable classrooms are now in The latest financial report with every dollar reconciled to bank use across the county. Currently 24 of 45 countywide schools • are over capacity. statement Projections by a leading, independent research firm indicate our student population will increase by another 15% over the next • A monthly check register showing every payment by vendor 9 years, boosting enrollment to nearly 36,000 and requiring and fund source nearly 450 portable classrooms in order to provide basic • A monthly report on penny sales tax revenues and instructional space. expenditures • All expenditures for each fiscal year by school/department, With more people mo ving into the county paying property program and funding source since 2011 taxes, doesn’t that mean more revenue is being generated • The annual State Examiner’s audit report and audited financial for education? So why are you asking for more? statements since 2010 Yes, that is true, but there is a two-year delay between the time • Board meeting agendas (including any and all bids for property taxes are assessed and payment is received by the Board services and details of all contracts over $10,000) of Education. Additionally, property values are still significantly • Full minutes of all Board of Education monthly and special lower than they were prior to the 2008 recession. In fact, the meetings property tax revenue we received in 2014 was $12 million (22%) We continually seek to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness. less than in 2008. The recent refinancing of an $89.4 million bond issue from 2007 at

a significantly lower interest rate will yield a $10.4 million What e xactly is a mill? savings for Baldwin County students and taxpayers over the A mill is equal to 1/10 of one percent of the assessed property course of the loan. value. A single-family owner-occupied home with a fair market value of $100,000 has an assessed value of $10,000 and, per How is the penny sales tax being used? Why can’t you use mill, will produce $10 of tax revenue per year. The Penny to build schools? How will an 8-mill increase affect me? The penny sales tax approved in 2010 and renewed by Baldwin voters in 2012 is generating approximately $30 million / year and As of November 2014, the average price of a home in Baldwin keeping 518 critically needed teachers and support professionals County was valued at $184,400. An 8-mill property tax on the job. Since it has a 5-year “sunset” provision, the penny sales increase would total $147.52 per year /$12.29 per month /40 tax cannot be pledged to pay for a 30-year bond. Similarly, banks cents per day. will not extend loans to unemployed applicants or those without How does Baldwin County’s property tax compare to other an adequate, reliable income. systems in ? If the 8-mill increase is earmarked only for capital projects Baldwin County receives 12 mills for education compared to: and maintenance, will we have enough to cover our • Mountain Brook: 52.9-mills operational expenses? • Vestavia Hills: 52.05-mills The Board must currently split our sales tax proceeds between • Hoover: 46 mills instructional / operational needs (teacher salaries and instructional programs) and capital/maintenance projects (AC repair, roof • Homewood City: 37.5-mills repair, additional small wings etc.). Earmarking the proposed • Jefferson County: 30-mills 8-mills for capital projects will free up sales tax revenue that can • Shelby County: 30-mills then be used exclusively for instructional needs. We estimate this will provide an additional $7-$8 million annually for hiring • Huntsville City: 27.5-mills teachers, reducing class sizes and creating or expanding • Mobile County (inside the City of Mobile and Prichard)= academic programs. 29.5-mills; (outside the city limits = 21.5-mills) Baldwin County ranks 87th out of 135 school systems in local If I vote for the 8-mill increase, how will my tax dollars be mills available for education. used? BBN • See Side B (p 2) for a complete summary of the proposed Capital Construction Plan. • For additional Frequently Asked Questions, visit buildbaldwinnow.com. The Capital Construction Plan

The Baldwin Board of Education has proposed a 10-year, Foley High attendance area $350 million Capital Construction plan to address current overcrowding, continued rapid growth and replacement of 1-3 YEARS declining facilities. • Foley Intermediate School addition and renovation to accommodate grades K-6 (with new land purchase) An 8-mill ad valorem property tax increase will be considered • addition by voters on March 31 (along with the renewal of 7 mills of 3-5 YEARS existing property tax earmarked for schools). • Potential addition at Foley Middle School The additional revenue would stay in Baldwin County and be 5-7 YEARS used exclusively for building and maintaining school facilities. • The first long-term Capital Construction Plan to be brought Potential new career tech center at Foley Armory forward by the school district in more than a decade is the New Elberta High School attendance area result of a comprehensive facility capacity study conducted 1-3 YEARS during 2013-14 by a nationally recognized growth consultant. Extensive collaboration with city and county leaders and input • Convert Elberta Middle School to grade 7-12 configuration from citizens across the county has also informed the proposed • Elberta Elementary addition to accommodate grades K-6 plan. attendance area The following is a summary of the proposed Capital Construction projects; 1-3 YEARS • New high school to accommodate 1,600 students Baldwin County High School attendance area • Orange Beach Elementary addition to accommodate grades 7-8 1-3 YEARS 5-10 YEARS • New Bay Minette Elementary School (grades K-6) • New elementary school in Gulf Shores on the other side of the canal. 3-5 YEARS • Baldwin County HS / Career Tech addition (Move North attendance area Baldwin Career Tech Center to Baldwin County High School campus.) 1-3 YEARS • Perdido Elementary / 8 classrooms (to replace older wing) • Robertsdale High School addition + • Cafeteria expansion attendance area • Additional Career Tech classrooms • Track & field upgrades (including lighting and resurfacing; 1-3 YEARS relocation of practice fields) • New Belforest area elementary school (grades K-8) • Additional parking 3-5 YEARS • Elsanor Elementary School 10-classroom addition • Central Baldwin Middle 10-classroom addition • Daphne High School addition • Renovation of CF Taylor Building as venue for school and • Facility upgrades at Trojan Hall Arts Center community functions • Daphne Elementary School addition • attendance area LONG-RANGE 1-3 YEARS • Potential new high school and middle school in Belforest area (creating new high school feeder pattern) • Spanish Fort High School addition (2 stories/40 rooms + gym) • Cafeteria addition attendance area • Conversion of current gym to auditorium / PE gym • Additional parking 1-3 YEARS 3-5 YEARS • K-1 Center renovation (Pre-K, kindergarten and 1st grade) • New Hwy 31 elementary school (K-6) • Fairhope High School 20-room addition • Spanish Fort Elementary School renovation 3-5 YEARS 7-10 YEARS • Fairhope Middle School addition • Potential new high school and middle school in “Golden Triangle” area (creating new high school feeder pattern)

Paid for by the Baldwin County Board of Education 2600 N. Hand Av., Bay Minette, AL 36507