BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – On a night dominated by statewide races, Alabamians also made decisions that could reshape the finances of several local school systems. Voters rejected school tax renewals in Walker County, Russell County and Phenix City, while approving a new tax in Ragland to keep the community’s K-12 school open.
The results leave some school officials facing multimillion-dollar revenue questions, even as Ragland celebrated a vote supporters said preserved the heart of their community.
In Walker County, where voters rejected renewals totaling 5 mills, the outcome also raises questions about how the district will maintain Alabama’s required 10-mill level of local school support…