TRUSSVILLE, Alabama (WBRC) – Voters in Trussville have one last chance to ask city leaders questions about a proposed property tax increase before Tuesday’s election.

A public meeting will be held at Paine Elementary School on Monday at 6 p.m.

Mayor Buddy Choat said Trussville’s economy is largely driven by the school system and he hopes the tax increase passes this week.

The mayor believes that the majority of the population will be in favor, but has also heard some concerns.

“I think those who don’t support this think it’s a bad time, you know, for some people with income, disposable income, but I think when you look at what we’re asking for, all the things we’ve done to move our school forward, we’ve let our citizens vote on it,” Choat said.

The city administration’s goal is a tax increase of $12.9 million to enable the construction of a new elementary school, improvements to the existing middle school, and the addition of an additional wing to the high school.

If passed, residents would pay about $129 for every $100,000 spent on their home.

The mayor added that more money for education would be better for the city and the young families moving to Trussville.

“Today, the median age in Trussville is under 39,” Choat said. “Many young families have a choice of where to live, but they choose here because we have excellent schools, a safe community, affordable housing, and we’re close enough to Birmingham and the airport. That’s important to keep our system moving forward.”

It is also part of the city’s plan for 2040. The mayor said a committee was set up in 2019 to create a 20-year plan outlining the city’s future.

“When we put everything together, we knew we needed a fourth elementary school,” Choat said. “Honestly, we didn’t know it would happen this quickly, but it just shows the growth we’ve had, the rapid growth we’ve experienced over the last 10 years.”

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