Council asks state to consider lifting property tax restriction
Homewood city council members unanimously approved a resolution asking the state legislature to lift its Lid Bill property tax restriction on the city at tonight's council meeting.
The Lid Bill caps municipalities' maximum ad valorem property tax rate, and Homewood cannot exceed its current amount. Since property tax is used to fund the school system, this restriction became an issue when the city decided to take out a $110 million bond for improvement and expansion projects in the schools, parks and public safety systems.
Instead of raising property taxes to offset the cost of the school system projects, Homewood raised its sales tax by one cent in late 2016.
Residents of Homewood currently pay 31.7 mills in taxes, divided between the state, the county and the city. A mill is equivalent to one-tenth of a cent, meaning residents pay just over three cents per dollar of their home's appraised value. Homewood's school system accounts for 15.1 mills, as well as 8.2 mills for the Jefferson County school system.
Homewood is asking to be exempted from the restrictions like neighboring cities Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook. State Rep. David Faulkner (District 46) was at tonight's meeting and said that the exemption, if approved by the state legislature, would also need to be approved in a county-wide referendum.
The school board intends to pass a similar resolution at its November meeting, Superintendent Bill Cleveland said.
Though council members said they are not specifically planning a property tax increase, they also noted that it would require a city vote to increase the tax.
The council also:
- Approved a sign ordinance variance request for a monument sign at LAH Real Estate. Ward 2 Representative Mike Higginbotham voted against the variance.
- Approved a crosswalk at Bonita Drive and Poinciana Drive.
- Approved declaration of miscellaneous computers and IT equipment as surplus.
- Declared 2900 16th Place South a public nuisance due to overgrowth after code enforcement officer Scott Cook said sufficient improvements had not been made. He also noted problems with the structure of a garage on the property.
- Approved annual budget appropriations for the Jefferson Blount St. Clair Mental Health Authority, the Birmingham Zoo and the Exceptional Foundation.
- Set a Nov. 13 public hearing for a front yard wall variance request at 3107 Whitehall Road.
- Dropped a request from Homewood City Schools and Hoar Program Management for reimbursement for summer construction projects in the schools. The school system and HPM withdrew the request.
- Dropped a fence ordinance variance request at 112 Hollywood Boulevard at the request of the homeowner.
- Opened two at-large seats on the medical board for applications through Nov. 22. Applications can be submitted to the city clerk.
- Carried over a special retail alcohol license request for 1918 Catering, 197 Vulcan Road.