DAPHNE, Ala. — The Daphne City Council at its business meeting Wednesday night made a public declaration of support for the March 23 referendum in which Baldwin County residents can vote on whether to institute a 1-cent sales tax that could help the Baldwin County Board of Education’s reported $75 million deficit.

“The Daphne City Council encourages the citizens of Daphne and all of Baldwin County to vote in favor of providing a short-term financial remedy that will keep school doors open, teachers in their classrooms and our children on a level playing field with others across the state,” the resolution states.

The penny-tax — with a 36-month life span — is expected to raise approximately $25 million per year.

The council unanimously adopted the resolution after amending it to include language that directs the state legislature to address reported inequities with the state’s equity funding system. Baldwin County is required to provide a “10 mil match,” that is pooled with funds from every county in the state. The amount received is based upon the number of students per capita in the county. Baldwin County is one of six counties that contribute to the fund from which 41 counties draw.

“It’s going to be a real fight to get that changed but we can work on it,” Councilman Bailey Yelding said.

“This equity funding system has been an expense to the community,” Councilman John Lake said. “The only way we’re going to get it addressed is if every one of us is ‘the squeaky wheel.’”

Council President August Palumbo agreed.

“If you don’t get up and rattle cages in Montgomery, it won’t get fixed,” he said.  Palumbo added that the state legislature currently has no items on its docket regarding revamping the equity funding system.

“This county will be in real trouble if the 1-cent sales tax does not pass,” Yelding said.

Councilman Ron Scott, who sits on the Finance Committee, approached the issue with a business-like perspective.

“This resolution, to me, may cost my family $200 or $300 a year, but if it doesn’t pass it will cost me even more in my biggest asset — my home,” he said.

Scott suggested that property values would decrease as a result of the school system’s deterioration of funding, resources and extracurricular activities.

Palumbo agreed.

“Property values will go down…if the schools go down, if we have to put 40, 50 kids in a classroom,” he said.

“I personally am not in favor of raising taxes during a down economy,” Councilman Derek Boulware said. “It’s the wrong path to take on most things. On most things.”

Members of Supporting Educational Enrichment in Daphne’s Schools spoke out in support during public participation.

“If this doesn’t pass, we will see dropout rates and unemployment rates increase,” S.E.E.D.S Executive Director Denise D’Oliveira said. “This is going to be a defining moment in Baldwin County.”

“There’s a tremendous amount of loss we’re facing. We’re facing sports being cut. We’re facing the arts being cut. This is something that we have to do, not what we want to do,” S.E.E.D.S. board member Ruth Sewell said.

Only supporters of the penny-tax spoke out during Wednesday’s meeting.

The Baldwin County Board of Education has reportedly lost $61 million in state funding in the past two years.

After increased proration and diminished sales and use tax revenues, the school board has terminated 450 employees and has closed two schools and 20 bus routes.

School board officials said 400 more jobs will be cut if the penny-tax measure does not pass.

City Council regularly holds business meetings on the first and third Monday each month with work sessions held on the second Monday,

This week’s meeting was reset for Wednesday in observance of Presidents Day on Monday and Mardi Gras on Tuesday.