FAIRHOPE, Ala. - Presented Monday night before a large audience at the Civic Center, the long-awaited study on the feasibility of creating a separate school system in Fairhope concluded that approximately $2 million in additional local revenue would be needed annually to maintain a system of academic programs and financial accountability similar to the one currently provided by Baldwin County Schools.

“Local tax-based revenues estimated for the proposed Fairhope City School System appear inadequate to meet estimated expenditure obligations for current operations and to meet expenditure obligations for capital outlay and debt service, and in addition meet expectations of resident parents and students,” states the conclusion of the $25,000, 157-page study commissioned by the City Council in January.

During his hour-long presentation before more than 250 people, Birmingham educational consultant Ira Harvey described the legal requirements for creating a separate city school system, the demographics of the area, as well as a number of possible financing approaches for establishing an independent system.

“This is not a recommendation for what you should or should not do,” Harvey said. “That’s the job of your local leaders.”

To create a separate city system would take about two years, he said, but the first step could be taken immediately, by having the council appoint a local school board. That board would then decide, independently of the council, at the end of the two-year period, whether to split off from the county system.

Following that presentation, Harvey then addressed the council at their regular meeting regarding the results of his study.

The new local system would assume approximately $41 million in debt for existing school buildings in the city, he told the council. To service that debt would cost approximately $1.2 million a year, and an additional $800,000 would be needed to set up a central administrative office, he said.

The city would thus need to raise an additional $2 million to maintain a system similar to the current county one, he said, possibly through an increase in property taxes, which he admitted might be difficult to do in the current economic climate.

A question-and-answer session followed his presentations, for which several dozen people remained.

“Why should we pull out of the current system and pay an additional $2 million just to maintain the status quo,” said Kristie Street, at the end of the meeting. “Let’s give the new superintendent a chance and see what he can do. The community is in turmoil over this.”

Scott Thompson, who was among the group of local residents who requested the study initially, said he believed further study was needed before the city could make a decision.

“The sales tax has been helpful,” said Thompson, regarding the countywide tax passed earlier this year for education. “But we’re still facing the same crisis.”

Councilwoman Debbie Quinn, who chairs the Fairhope Schools Financial Feasibility Study Committee, said that group would meet next week.

“It will be a public meeting,” she said. “They will make a recommendation, and then it will be in the council’s lap”

Additional public meetings on the issue of creating a separate school system should also be held, she said.

“That will allow more questions and concerns about the issue to be raised and answered.”

The study, entitled “A Report on the Financial Feasibility to Form an Independent City School System for the Municipality of Fairhope, Alabama,” was posted yesterday on the city’s website and is also available for review at the public library.