Would you be willing to pay a penny more in sales tax to improve Limestone County schools?

That’s the question Limestone voters will probably go to the polls to decide in August.

Limestone County school board members unanimously agreed Monday to ask the County Commission to call a special election sometime in August to ask voters for a 1-cent increase in the countywide sales tax.

School officials say the tax hike is needed to pay for $50 million in school construction and renovation projects at seven county schools. Impending growth and deteriorating facilities prompted the request.

“In the movie ‘Field of Dreams’ they said, ‘Build it and they will come,’ ” said Superintendent Dr. Barry Carroll. “In Limestone County, we don’t say that, we say, ‘They are coming, we must build it. ’ ”

He added, “If we do not begin preparing now, in 2009 we will be saying, ‘They’re here!’ ”

He was referring to the line from the horror movie “Poltergeist.”

Board President Bryant Moss said he believes the county will call the special election.

“That is my feeling from talking to them,” he said.

If approved, the 1-cent tax would take effect in September and generate about $5 million a year or $50 million over 10 years. The schools would borrow $50 million for the projects and use the 1-cent tax to pay off the debt. After 10 years, the tax would be discontinued, which would be stated on the ballot.

Here are the proposed projects that would be covered by the $50 million:



Ardmore



• New gymnasium - $3.5 million

• Cafeteria expansion - $400,000

• Middle and high school renovation - $400,000



Clements High School



• New elementary school - $11 million

• Middle and high school renovation - $400,000

• Drainage and front paving - $200,000

• Widening of road (to improve safety) - $100,000



East Limestone High School



• New gymnasium - $3.5 million

• New elementary school - $11 million

• Middle school renovations - $300,000



Elkmont High School



• New elementary school - $11 million

• Middle and high school renovation - $400,000

• Cafeteria expansion - $400,000



Owens Elementary School



• New gymnasium - $1.5 million

• Front entrance paving - $100,000

• Cafeteria renovation - $300,000



Tanner High School



• Old gymnasium renovation - $300,000

• Land (because school is boxed in) and paving - $300,000

• Front office renovation - $300,000

• Cafeteria renovation and expansion - $400,000



West Limestone High School



• Land acquisition (there is no baseball field) - $300,000

• New gymnasium - $3.5 million

• Middle and high school renovation - $400,000



Growth



Carroll said Limestone’s student population has grown from 7,851 in the 2000-2001 school year to 8,537in 2006-2007. He predicts the population will rise to 10,017 students by the 2011-2012 school year.

He noted that the county has approved 42 subdivisions in 2006 and 5,500 lots and that 1,500 lots are ready for construction and 4,000 lots are ready for roads utilities, etc.

Growth generated by the Base Realignment and Closure, which will transfer military personnel to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, would also bring more residents, support personnel and students to the area, he said.

Athens residents currently pay an 8-cent sales tax. Of that, 4 cents goes to the state and 4 cents are split between the city and county. If voters approve a tax hike, Athens residents would pay a 9-cent sales tax and county residents outside of Athens would pay a 7-cent sales tax.

In October, the county will also receive extra 2 mills of property tax. Voters approved a statewide constitutional amendment requiring every city and county school system in the state to have at least 10 mills of property taxes allocated for education. Athens and Limestone County were among 30 school systems statewide charging fewer than 10 mills. A special election would cost about $50,000, said Probate Judge Mike Davis.

The next regular election is not until the June primary in 2008.



Savings



Although the county schools have an $8 million surplus, the state requires all school systems to set aside one month operating expenses at all times. In Limestone County schools that amounts to $6 million, leaving only $2 million in surplus, which is used to balance the budget.

The county schools currently owe $27.8 million for new schools like Creekside and Cedar Hill.