COLUMN: A Postmortem Analysis Of Failed Tuscaloosa City Schools Property Tax Referendum

*This is an opinion column*

TUSCALOOSA, AL — What struck me on the eve of Tuesday's special election was how concerned and fatalistic both sides seemed to be when asked for their predictions of the outcome.

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Indeed, I didn't know what to think when the opposing camps appeared convinced they were each going to be dealt a loss at the ballot box. After all, it's not exactly common in these kinds of single-issue special elections and, in my experience, it's often been far easier to anticipate the results as opposed to, say, races for elected office.

But this one was different.

As Patch reported on Tuesday, the proposed property tax increase to provide additional funding to Tuscaloosa City Schools failed, with nearly 54% of voters opposed. Despite still nearly ending in a landslide, the city referendum saw a much slimmer margin separating the two sides as opposed to last year, when nearly 80% of voters in the county opposed a similar property tax increase to provide funding to the much larger Tuscaloosa County School System.

I also wrote last week that many of those in support of the increase believed that a high voter turnout favored their cause. So you can probably guess how I thought things were going to go when I heard about the line stretching out the door at the Church of the Highlands precinct — a council district with the most registered voters that ended up determining the outcome of the special election.

In providing commentary and doing a postmortem analysis on why the proposed property tax increase was voted down, voter turnout is probably the best place to start.

Overall turnout for the seven precincts came in at 16%, which isn't great but not terrible for a single-issue special election.

On the low end, turnout came in just below 5% for the 5,776 registered voters in District 4, which includes the University of Alabama. Meanwhile, it was quite the opposite story in District 3 — the most affluent part of the city, where 33% of the district's 12,693 registered voters cast ballots.

District 3 saw 2,406 votes against the property tax increase, which represents 42% of the total opposition from the seven council districts. With this in mind, it becomes clear that the city's wealthiest district played the largest role in killing the property tax increase.

But District 3 shouldn't get all the credit.

At the same time, several sources close to the situation told Patch that the Tuscaloosa County Branch NAACP also helped tilt the scales in favor of the opposition.

As voters headed to the polls Tuesday, the Tuscaloosa County Branch NAACP President Lisa Young released a long statement on social media, including from the chapter's local Facebook account, that raised numerous pointed questions, with some casting serious doubt on the intentions of Tuscaloosa City Schools leadership.

The timing was certainly relevant as Young took issue with Superintendent Mike Daria's salary, in addition to claiming that the property tax increase, if passed, would disproportionally impact people in low-income areas.

It's worth noting here that three of the four council districts that voted in favor of the property tax increase are predominantly minority districts represented by Black city councilors: District 1's Matthew Wilson, District 2's Raevan Howard and District 7's Cassius Lanier.

Among the other criticisms and questions from Young, though, one in particular stood out and became an interesting election-day subplot — hidden jumbotrons.

In a gullible world where many actively seek out conspiracy theories to validate their preconceived notions, this accusation had just the right degree of believability for people to run with as truth.

The Tuscaloosa County Branch NAACP asked:"Did TCS spend MILLIONS on jumbotrons that are being hid because they do not want taxpayers to see them until after the vote?"

The question by the advocacy group was the first time to this reporter's knowledge that the issue had been raised publicly and it immediately drew the attention of those opposed to the property tax increase.

Tuscaloosa City Schools Director of Public Relations Lydia Seabol Avant told Patch on Wednesday that this was nothing more than a rumor and that "there are no jumbotrons."

"We had requested quotes on three jumbotrons earlier this year, hoping to use a state grant to buy them and to generate revenue for TCS through advertising," she said. "But, none were ever purchased. Even if they had, they would have been a couple hundred thousand dollars, not the 'millions' that was said on social media. But again, none were ever purchased. We will, however, continue to look for ways to generate additional revenue for TCS, especially now that the referendum did not pass."

Still, regardless of the validity of the jumbotron claims, it would be reasonable to speculate that the NAACP's skepticism of the proposed property tax increase on the day of the election might have contributed to tighter margins in the final results and more votes against the measure from the city's Black voters.

The NAACP was also not without its fair share of critics in the wake of the property tax increase being voted down, namely accusations that the organization was phone banking for the opposition and calling voters to influence their decision.

Following the organization's offensive against the proposed property tax increase on Tuesday, Tuscaloosa County Branch NAACP President Lisa Young then pivoted to a defensive posture in a statement on Wednesday, saying the defamatory phone banking accusations were nothing but "false and misleading rumors."

"As a trusted community organization, the NAACP has a responsibility to ensure that the residents of Tuscaloosa County are well-informed about all issues affecting our community," she said. "In line with that mission, we provided a balanced perspective on the proposed tax referendum through a social media post. This post was accessible to all and offered information regarding both the potential positive and negative impacts of the referendum."

So, with the proposed property tax increase dead and buried, what's next?

For starters, Tuscaloosa City Schools will have no choice but to reckon with an anticipated revenue shortfall. TCS leadership has already said this will result in cuts to valuable programs, fewer interventionists and school nurses, and less money for athletics.

And ultimately, it will be the kids who suffer.

It's also something that many may not want to talk about but with fewer extracurricular offerings giving students opportunities and keeping at-risk kids busy with something constructive at their schools, what will their options be now? For some, it will inevitably be the streets.

Keep in mind, dear reader, that this has been a most violent year for the City of Tuscaloosa and I've lost count of the number of stories I've written about teenagers committing or being the victim of gun violence. Even on Wednesday, I wrote a story about four teenagers arrested for a shooting and physical altercation at Little Caesars on Old Greensboro Road Monday.

Three of the suspects, whose lives are now effectively over, were between 15-16 years old. While we will likely never know for sure, one can't help but think if this could have been avoided had certain things gone differently at school.

In another example of how the kids will suffer, look at the beloved football program at Central High School.

After several years of struggling to compete in AHSAA Class 6A, second-year head coach Demario Pippen — a product of Tuscaloosa City Schools and a former standout running back at Central over a decade ago — has brought pride back to the program and generated more excitement than has been seen in that part of town for some time.

Indeed, the Falcons started the season with an unforgettable win over its 7A crosstown rival Tuscaloosa County High School and started the 2024 campaign 3-0. If there was a coach worth investing in right now, it's Coach Pippen.

Success and excitement don't pay the bills, though.

What many don't see is that Pippen, like many other coaches at underfunded schools, is left little choice but to depend on the generosity of the community for everyday items like sports drinks, snacks for his players, laundry detergent and other basic items needed for the day-to-day operations of a 6A football program.

Do you think they have to ask for community donations for Saraland or Spain Park football?

I seriously doubt it.

And now with anticipated funding cuts for athletics, Pippen and other TCS coaches will likely have to make do with even fewer resources while having to compete against better-funded programs.

So, outside of donating Gatorade and granola bars, what can the community do to pick up the slack for this school system?

I think it starts with some of the business leaders who spent big money in their opposition to the proposed property tax increase.

This is because several of them told me quite plainly that they would have no problem paying more in taxes or finding ways to support the schools. No, their issues were focused on poor academic performance and financial mismanagement by the TCS central office.

"It's not about the money to me, I'll cut the check today," Tuscaloosa businessman Steven Rumsey told me in the days ahead of the special election.

Rumsey, who chairs the Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority Board of Directors, insisted he would make money if the proposed property tax increase passed and, instead, lamented the timing of the vote, the size of the proposed increase and the turbulent economic climate being navigated by so many.

My hope is that these business leaders will do the right thing by stepping up and finding ways to not just help the school system financially but to put personal squabbles aside and work with TCS officials to tackle the most pressing issues. These business leaders have the means and influence to swing an election, so why not use that power to make a positive impact on the school system?

As for the side that supported the proposed property tax increase — led by a political action committee dubbed "Secure the Future" — I think there is something positive that can come from defeat.

Indeed, the PAC raised tens of thousands of dollars, mainly from numerous small, individual donations. This group represented a commendable contrast to the disjointed support network for the ill-fated county referendum last year, which didn't have much in the way of leadership for the side supporting the proposed property tax increase, while the opposition group was clearly defined and bankrolled by the Alabama Farmers Federation or ALFA.

The energy of Secure the Future and the relatively close final result of the special election underscore the fact that there are people in the community who genuinely care about their schools and are willing to give, even during tough economic times.

Advocates for the school system would be making a massive mistake to not build upon that passion they've already harnessed.

My parting thought for this column is not an original one. Instead, one educated and well-connected friend provided what I thought was a stellar idea, to the point I simply can't take credit for it, even if they didn't want to be named.

Think about this: Why does Secure the Future, or at least the core concept, have to go anywhere now that the election is over?

Would that not be a waste of organizational energy and momentum? I can't help but see an opportunity here for the concept to evolve beyond being a fundraising PAC to become a vehicle for finding ways to help the city school system.

After all, this group consists of educators, professionals and parents who know the ground-level needs of the schools and have already shown an ability to get things done.

Considering this, I don't see why Secure the Future can't carry on in spirit — maybe in the form of a new grassroots fundraising effort to supplement TCS funding and help ease the financial strain where they can.

After the last few months of personal attacks, bickering over taxes and fears of the sky falling, the people cast their votes and decided. The time for talk is over.

The onus must now be on those same people and the school system to find solutions to ensure city schools improve in the face of economic turbulence and a revenue shortfall.

If the primary concern is for the kids, then it's time for some to put their words into action.

Ryan Phillips is an award-winning journalist, editor and opinion columnist. He is also the founder and field editor of Tuscaloosa Patch. The opinions expressed in this column are in no way a reflection of our parent company or sponsors. Email news tips to ryan.phillips@patch.com.