12-mill tax increase for school district passes

MADISON – The unofficial results are in. The special election held today approved a 12-mill property tax increase with over 70% of the votes cast in favor of the tax increase.

Here are the votes per district:
District 1: Yes 793 / No 310
District 2: Yes 652 / No 184
District 3: Yes 395 / No 221
District 4: Yes 504 / No 224
District 5: Yes 783 / No 482
District 6: Yes 683 / No 395
District 7: Yes 1,100 / No 491
Triana:      Yes 272 / 43
Limestone 2: Yes 936 / No 296
Limestone 4: Yes 332 / No 78
Absentee: Yes 125 / No 48

The special election was held to help the Madison City School district expand to meet the rising population in Madison. The vote signaled a desire by Madison residents to do what it takes to ensure the schools and district as a whole maintains a level people in Madison have grown to expect. MCS is ranked as the top district in North Alabama and number two in Alabama.

No one could be more pleased with the election result than MCS superintendent Robby Parker.

“We will immediately begin to build a 900-student elementary school and a 1,200-student middle school. We will also expand capacity at James Clemens and Bob Jones by 500-students each, and make safety and security improvements to the schools as well,” Parker said Monday if the tax increase passes.

“I’m proud for the City of Madison,” Madison Mayor Paul Finley said after the results were announced.   “Now it is time to manage growth, build some schools, and continue to improve quality of life!”