Amendment 2 on the Statewide Ballot November 2, 2010

This is Amendment 2
You can check out Politics Alabama on the right hand of this blog page for another opinion or explanation of this amendment.

http://www.arc-sos.state.al.us/pac/sosacpdf.001/a0007147.pdf

You can copy and paste this into your web browser to view the entire content of this amendment.

HB253 *Note* This is HB 253 from 2009 so you cannot find in 2010 on Alison
Sponsor:Representative Lindsey (Constitutional Amendment)
RFD: Education Appropriations
First Read: 03-Feb-09

To propose an amendment to Section 269 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended by amendment number 111 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as section 269 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, relating to special county educational taxes, to provide that the taxes be levied against a majority vote, not by three-fifths vote, of those voting at the election.

Notice the change from three-fifths to a majority, also note that would mean people that do not pay property taxes will be voting on this amendment. Meaning: Any tax increases would not affect people that do not own property.

SECTION 269

Special county school taxes.

The several counties in this state shall have power to levy and collect a special tax not exceeding ten cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable property in such counties, for the support of public schools; provided, that the rate of such tax, the time it is to continue, and the purpose thereof, shall have been first submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of the county, and voted for by three-fifths, a majority, of those voting at such election; but the rate of such special tax shall not increase the rate of taxation, state and county combined, in any one year, to more than one dollar and twenty-five cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable property; excluding, however, all special county taxes for public buildings, roads, bridges, and the payment of debts existing at the ratification of the Constitution of eighteen hundred and seventy-five. The funds arising from such special school tax shall be so apportioned and paid through the proper school officials to the several schools in the townships and districts in the county that the school terms of the respective schools shall be extended by such supplement as nearly the same length of time as practicable; provided, that this section shall not apply to the cities of Decatur, New Decatur, and Cullman.

What this means is that the majority, instead of three-fifths of eligible voters, will determine for the home and land owners by a yes vote, to raise the taxes of home or land owners to fund education.

The questions I am asking myself are these:
Do I believe the education system in Alabama deserves more money from the land and home owners of the state of Alabama?
Where is the guarantee that the taxation rates of this proposed amendment will be spent directly in the classroom, thereby directly benefiting the children of Alabama?
Where is the guarantee that good teachers will be rewarded and bad teachers will be sent home without the ability to achieve tenure or full retirement benefits?

Note: America was never intended to become a true Democracy where the majority rules. Majority rule=Mob rule Republic Rule=Rule of Law

A no vote means that those who do not own property, home or land, will not be able to determine, by majority vote, the tax rates for those owning land or a home for the Alabama Education System.

You decide.

Donna Dawson