Franklin County — Renewal of 5.5 mill countywide school tax

What it does

SPECIAL ELECTION FOR RENEWAL AND CONTINUATION OF LEVY OF THE 5.5 MILL COUNTYWIDE SCHOOL TAX (Section 269.01, Constitution of Alabama of 2022) Shall the governing body of Franklin County, Alabama, be authorized to levy annually, for a period of thirty (30) consecutive years, commencing with the levy for the tax year that will begin on October 1, 2027 (for which tax year taxes will become due and payable on October 1, 2028), for public school purposes in said county, a special property tax at the rate of fifty-five cents on each one hundred dollars (equal to 5.5 mills on each dollar) of the assessed value of the taxable property in said county, which special tax shall be in renewal and continuation of the special tax at the same rate and for the same purpose that is now being levied in the said county?

A YES vote means

Franklin County could keep levying its 5.5-mill school property tax (55 cents per $100 of assessed value) in the county for 30 more years starting with the tax year beginning October 1, 2027, renewing the current tax at the same rate.

A NO vote means

The current 5.5-mill school tax would not be renewed for these 30 years.

What it would cost

5.5 mills for 30 years: $550 a year for every $100,000 of taxable value (a mill is $1 per $1,000). Taxable value is after exemptions such as homestead; your tax bill or property appraiser shows yours. It would continue a tax already in place rather than add a new one.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

Per the ballot question, this would renew Franklin County's existing 5.5-mill countywide school property tax for 30 years, starting with the tax year that begins October 1, 2027.

The Franklin Free Press reported that the County Commission approved three resolutions putting a 10-mill school tax renewal on the November ballot at the request of school officials. Russellville voters see the 5.5-mill countywide tax paired with a 4.5-mill city district tax, and other voters see it paired with a 4.5-mill county district tax.

Put on the ballot by Franklin County Commission.

From official source.

In the news

• Franklin County Commission approves placing 10 mill education tax renewal on November ballot · Franklin Free Press

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Franklin County ballots

• Franklin County Local Amendment 1 — Authorize a qualified taxpayer 65 years of age or older to claim a senior property tax exemption for real…

All Franklin County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Franklin County mean?

Franklin County could keep levying its 5.5-mill school property tax (55 cents per $100 of assessed value) in the county for 30 more years starting with the tax year beginning October 1, 2027, renewing the current tax at the same rate.

What does a NO vote on Franklin County mean?

The current 5.5-mill school tax would not be renewed for these 30 years.

How many votes does Franklin County need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Franklin County?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.