GULF SHORES - Going one step further to see that the proposed 1-cent sales tax passes to support Baldwin County public schools, the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Education Foundation has asked the Gulf Shores City Council to support the upcoming tax formally in the form of a resolution.

Nick Wilmott, president of the Foundation, addressed council members at Monday’s committee of the whole meeting, pleading for the support of the city.

“There are two major groups that are already in support of this tax,” Wilmott told the council. “First there is the Baldwin County Association of Realtors who came out a couple of weeks ago with formal support. Then in the last week, the Alabama Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce board of directors voted unanimously to support this tax. So you have the real estate agents as well as the business community in support of this tax.”

Since May of 2005, the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Education Foundation has worked to raise money and help provide superior educational opportunities in the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach public schools.

Wilmott told the council that, while the Foundation recognizes no one wants more taxes, this one is vital to the future of the school system.

“If this tax does not pass, we have teachers that will lose their job. Plus, our schools bring people to our area. People ask me every day about our schools. This growth creates jobs,” Wilmott said.

In jeopardy with the loss of teachers could be the loss of certain programs that, while not necessary for graduation, but are vital to the community.

“Our schools have great programs in academics that aren’t necessarily required for graduation, but they are important to our community, I don’t know the drastic effects that might happen from these cuts, but I do know that the principals and administrators will have to look at what matters. It is a three-year temporary tax, but we recognize that it is vital to our area.”

Dr. Ernie Rosado, principal at Gulf Shores High School, along with several other administrators and teachers were in attendance to show their support for the tax as well.

Council woman Carolyn Doughty said that everyone recognizes the importance of the tax and while many people are on a fixed income, she doesn’t see how this cannot pass.

“Most people in the working world have been on a fixed income for the past four or five years,” said Doughty.  “We’ve had decreases in income, we’ve seen insurance rates go up, 401k matches not being done, this whole community has suffered financially. But when you look at the choice, I just don’t see how you can say no to this. I know that sometimes we don’t like things that go on in Montgomery, but voting no on this is not going to change that.”

Councilman Jason Dyken added that the future of our community depends on the children that are in our schools right now.

“This is really the fairest thing we can do,” said councilman Steve Jones. “We get so much help from the tourism community, we are not paying this tax by ourselves. Everyone who comes to this community is helping us with this, so this summer, hopefully we will have a good season. I would much rather see this than a property tax increase. Do any of us want to see this - no we don’t. But this will help us, once we get this passed, to fix some of the other inequities that exist.”

Councilman Philip Harris that, unlike taxes in the past, this is about maintaining things that the schools need, not enhancing things that they want.

“This is not about increased programs and facilities, it is about keeping the things in place for our kids education,” Harris said.

Mayor Robert Craft said that while raising taxes is a step outside of what the city has been trying to do, he supports the effort.

“In our budgeting and in how we manage this city, we have taken a firm stance about not raising taxes, cutting expenses and being more diligent about how we  do things, but we have control over that. We don’t have any control over what the school system spends money on, but I will assume that they have done all that they can do. But I agree, and I support this process.”

Should the sales tax pass on March 23, all funds collected from the tax will stay within Baldwin County.