MADISON – Today is the day. Voters in Madison and Triana will either approve or deny a proposed 12-mill tax increase for Madison City Schools.

According to MCS leaders, the increase will be used to construct an elementary school ($34 million), middle school ($49 million), high school additions ($18-$20 million), $3.5 million for additional operational support (SROs, counselors, teachers, utilities). Proceeds will also be used to convert West Madison Elementary into a district-wide PreK Center, make safety enhancements, address numerous deferred maintenance projects, and for innovative instructional initiatives.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. this morning and will close at 7 p.m.

Polling locations go by city council districts, with two of those districts, places 2 and 4, having split districts depending on whether you live in Limestone County or Madison County. If you know your city council district or who your council representative is, you will vote at the following locations.     

District 1, Maura Wroblewski, Faith Lutheran Church, 660 Gillespie Road.

District 2, Steve Smith (Madison County), Madison Baptist Church, 840 Balch Road.

District 2. Steve Smith (Limestone County), Lamb of God Lutheran Church, 11716 County Line Road.

District 3, Teddy Powell, Madison Mission Seventh Day Adventist, 183 Shelton Road.

District 4, Greg Shaw (Madison County), Madison City Hall, 100 Hughes Road.

District 4, Greg Shaw (Limestone County), Lamb of God Lutheran Church, 11716 County Line Road.

District 5, Tommy Overcash, St. John the Baptist Catholic School, 1057 Hughes Road.

District 6, Gerald Clark, Madison Church of Christ, 556 Hughes Road.

District 7, John Seifert, Restoration Church, 5810 Wall Triana Hwy.

You can click here for a map and voter information lookup to help know which polling place you need to vote.

Some citizens have expressed confusion over how much the proposed increase will mean to their annual taxes. It is the equivalent of approximately $120 more annually per $100,000 value of home, or $10 per month. So a $200,000 home would see a $240 per yr. (or $20 monthly) increase and so forth.

The ballot language says 12 mils adds $1.20 on each $100 of assessed value of taxable property. It is important to remember that “assessed” value in the case of a personal home is 10 percent of appraised (or actual) value that is assigned by county tax assessor’s office.

For a comprehensive Q&A guide to the proposed tax increase and plans by the school district, click here.

Click here for a message sent my MCS superintendent Robby Parker yesterday explaining why this vote is vital to the future of Madison schools.