Community leaders gather to support property tax vote for Montgomery schools

Montgomery Public School leaders were joined by Montgomery County leaders during a press conference earlier this week at Capitol Heights Middle School to support for a property tax increase that would provide additional funding to the county's district. 

Mayor Steven Reed, County Commission Chairman Elton Dean, Sen. David Burkette and Rep. Kirk Hatcher were among those present. Business leaders such as Jere Beasley of Beasley Allen Law Firm and Region Bank Market President Arthur DuCote were also in attendance.

Montgomery residents can vote on the potential increase during the Nov. 3 election. 

More:Property tax increase for education will be on November ballot

"If we want to be a first-class city, then we can't do that on a coach class budget." Reed said. 

Currently, Montgomery County residents pay 10 mills in property tax toward public education, the state-mandated minimum.

If passed, it would bring an additional $33 million to the district annually. Additional taxes would not start being collected until 2023, with MPS receiving the funds the following year. 

For residents who own and occupy a home at the median county value ($127,500) within the city limits, the increase would cost less than an additional $13 per month. 

Within the county, property owners in Pike Road, which has its own school system and tax structure, would not be affected by the increase.

DuCote, who is also the chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, said the business is 100% behind this initiative. 

"A quality public education is synonymous with economic prosperity in any community," DuCote said.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Krista Johnson at kjohnson3@gannett.com.