MADISON, AL (WAFF) -
Madison City Council got an update from its superintendent on the half cent sales tax that's been helping the district.
The benefit can already be seen with the new James Clemons High School. The sales tax helped repay the federal loans to build it.
Now the talk is over keeping it in place.
The half cent sales tax went in three years ago, so this is not to be confused with the property tax that has failed three times to get on the ballot. It was expected to replace the sales tax for being a source of revenue for the district.
Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler had three questions to answer: How much money does it generate? What can it be used for? How will BRAC impact Madison City Schools?
The half cent sales tax brings in just over $2-million a year.
Legally, the money can be used for anything that is fair and responsible for running the district.
"The BRAC money comes as a grant where we will only have to pay half of it back, so if we were to get $20-million, we would only have to pay $10-million," Fowler said.
With the surge of BRAC families moving into the area, Madison City Schools is expected to get right around that $20-million mentioned.
With the sales tax pulling more than the district expected, they'll be able to pay back that BRAC grant money quickly.
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The half cent sales tax went in three years ago.
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