Russell County — Renewal of 4.5 mill countywide school tax

What it does

SPECIAL ELECTION FOR RENEWAL AND CONTINUATION OF LEVY OF THE 4.5 MILL COUNTYWIDE SCHOOL TAX (Section 269.01, Constitution of Alabama of 2022) Shall the governing body of Russell County, Alabama, be authorized to levy annually, for a period of thirty (30) consecutive years, commencing with the levy for the tax year that began on October 1, 2026 (for which tax year taxes will become due and payable on October 1, 2027), for public school purposes in said county, a special property tax at the rate of forty-five cents on each one hundred dollars (equal to 4.5 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

Russell County could keep levying its 4.5-mill school property tax (45 cents per $100 of assessed value) in the county for 30 more years starting with the tax year beginning October 1, 2026, renewing the current tax at the same rate.

A NO vote means

The current 4.5-mill school tax would not be renewed for these 30 years.

What it would cost

4.5 mills for 30 years: $450 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 Russell County's existing 4.5-mill countywide school property tax for 30 years.

WTVM reported that Russell County voters rejected the renewal on May 19, 2026. According to the station, the school district's chief financial officer said losing the tax would cost about $2 million a year and could jeopardize matching state funds.

WTVM reported that a district official put the cost at $86.50 a year on a $150,000 house, and that the renewal is also on the November 3 ballot in Phenix City.

Put on the ballot by Russell County governing body (Section 269.01, Constitution of Alabama of 2022).

From official source.

In the news

• Failed school tax renewal could cost Russell County Schools $60 million over 30 years · WTVM

Next elections here

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

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Russell County mean?

Russell County could keep levying its 4.5-mill school property tax (45 cents per $100 of assessed value) in the county for 30 more years starting with the tax year beginning October 1, 2026, renewing the current tax at the same rate.

What does a NO vote on Russell County mean?

The current 4.5-mill school tax would not be renewed for these 30 years.

How many votes does Russell 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 Russell 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.