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Limestone County commissioners debate whether to enact constitutionally required 10-mill school tax before Oct. 1
Summary
County attorneys told the Limestone County Commission that Amendment 7 78 of the Alabama Constitution requires a minimum 10-mill ad valorem school tax in affected school districts; commissioners and public speakers urged more public input and asked whether alternative funding could meet the mandate.
Limestone County commissioners spent nearly half an hour on a resolution to impose a constitutionally required education ad valorem tax that county attorneys say must bring affected school districts to a 10-mill minimum rate beginning Oct. 1.
The matter drew public commenters and extended legal explanation because parts of the county had previously voted down a countywide renewal and local residents said they learned of the current action only within the past week. The commission’s legal counsel said failing to adopt the resolution would expose the county to litigation.
Why this matters: The outcome affects property tax bills across parts of Limestone County and will change which taxpayers see increases or decreases depending on whether they live inside municipal boundaries (Athens, Madison, Huntsville) or in unincorporated areas. The deadline of Oct. 1 was repeatedly cited by attorneys as the date when new rates would take effect if the county does not act.
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