Madison County school board lowers property tax rate, approves construction plans, staffing and training purchases

The Madison County Board of Education voted to set a reduced real-estate tax rate and to approve a slate of construction plans, staffing changes and technology and training purchases at its meeting. The board also authorized the superintendent to approve use of charter buses for in-state athletic trips during the 2025–26 school year and declared several district buses surplus.

The actions affect school construction and maintenance, vocational training at Ignite South, staffing at multiple schools and day-to-day operations such as meal pricing and athletic transportation. Several motions were approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Board members approved a proposal from district finance staff to set the real-estate tax rate at 61.8 cents per $100 of assessed value and the personal-property tax rate at 63.2 cents per $100 of assessed value. "We have a proposal to set our real estate tax rate at 61.8¢ and our personal property tax rate at 63.4," said a district staff presenter; the personal-property rate was later corrected on the record to 63.2 cents. After the vote, board chair Lori Cobb said, "so folks, when you get those tax bills this fall, if they're up, it's not our fault," noting the board had lowered the rate from the prior year.

The board approved final plans for HVAC renovations at Foley Middle School and Madison Southern High School and authorized bidding on four masonry dugouts (two baseball, two softball) at Clarkmore Middle School. "It's gonna be 4 dugouts. There'll be masonry construction with concrete floor..." said Mr. Clark, describing the dugout design…