August 4th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
I would submit that 40-50 of those kids live in apartments which means they also pay no taxes.
————————————————————————————–
While many believe that those who live in apartments do not pay taxes, they believe incorrectly. Those who live in apartments are helping the owner pay the property tax through the rent they pay. This has to be figured into the amount to charge for rent or the owners would not have enough money to pay the taxes. This is also true for those who rent houses. Mortgage, insurance, repairs and property taxes are considered when deciding on an amount to charge.

What do you think about this? When it happens?

And, sadly, I am sure there are some citizens of VH who wanted to see the desegregation order end because they just don’t give a damn about the education of children who don’t live in the city — I see the same opposition for the same reasons to tax reform. It’s incredibly short-sighted.

As I said in the post, my ideal solution would have been annexation if that’s what the Oxmoor Valley citizens wanted. It would have brought all the kids in the area into the system, and it would have, I hope, added at least a little more much needed diversity to our community.

Given that didn’t happen, I’ll continue my lobbying efforts for tax reform and my support for the work of Alabama Arise and others who push these issues all the time.

I do have to correct one assertion you made — people who live in apartments do indeed pay property taxes as part of their rent, and rental property is taxed at a higher rate than homesteads.

Let me add that, to my sorrow, I have seen Shelia Smoot play fast and loose with the facts in another “gotcha” attempt, this one from the dais of a County Commission meeting. And I also have some perspective on the problems she’s had w/r/t the VH school system, from the perspective of students in the classroom. When they support the actions of those in authority, it occurs to me that there was good reason for the system’s actions.

1) “…— in some cases, one end of an apartment complex might be in the VH zone, while the other end is zoned for Birmingham city schools.”
The reality is that, despite what has been said, there are NO apartments in the affected area.
2) “VH also provides buses to transport the children from that area, although it doesn’t have bus service for those of us who live in VH. … at least one additional bus and driver”
While I have no specific details it was admitted during the meeting that the buses and drivers are not paid by the Vestavia system. In addition, with the annexation of Cahaba Heights VH does provide buses for their patrons as some Cahaba Heights buses do exist. It is the city of Vestavia that has chosen not to have school buses.
3) “VH city attorneys offered to assist the citizens of the area through the process of annexation into VH…”
At the meeting Vestavia Hills representatives made a statement that they would love to annex the Oxmoor Valley due to its commercial potential but they knew that was impossible. The discussion of annexation referred to the decision of residents about 20 years ago to AGREE to Birmingham’s request to annex them. Vestavia had the opportunity to annex the property but chose not to.
4) “…of students currently enrolled, only 7% are black”
The actual percentage is 3-5%.
Also,
1) While VH gets no property tax revenue for the children, they do receive the government per child allotment.
2) Lets assume that the 7% black enrollment is correct (and not the 3-5% I submit) and that there are 70 black children who live in VH. I would submit that 40-50 of those kids live in apartments which means they also pay no taxes. A review of the U. S. Census tables support this. FYI-there are many, many instances throughout the metro area of children attending school systems they are not zoned to (using relatives’ addresses, getting apartments within the school district while maintaining a home elsewhere, etc) that cuts across racial and economic lines – but that’s another discussion.

3) While I am not defending Sheila Smoot or anyone who feels race is behind everything a couple of things should be said about this.
a. During the meeting it was revealed that someone from Sheila Smoot’s office called the VH Board of Education about a Birmingham student wanting to transfer from their low performing school to Vestavia (as is allowed by law if the school system has the room). This “parnet” was told Vestavia were no longer accepting any more transfer students – they were full. A short time later that day a white member of Sheila Smoot’s staff contacted the same employee at the VHBoE and indicated she was interested in transferring from Hoover to the Vestavia School System. She was not only told what to do, but was faxed information including contact numbers. The VHBoE employee that both parties spoke to was actually at the meeting representing VHBoE and actually admitted to the conversations but became speechless when notified of the “trick”. And so was the tone for the rest of the meeting.
b. Ms. Smoot has had previous run ins with the VHBoE concerning her own daughter. She and the VHBoE are not friends.
4) While the meeting was contentious it was only because of the way the proposal was presented:
a. Oxmoor Valley residents were notified via a note in their child’s backpack on Monday afternoon about a Tuesday, 4PM meeting.
i. The kids did not even know they.
ii. There a far fewer kids who ride the bus home compared to those who ride the bus to school. So, most parents had no idea of the meeting. Word of the meeting was passed from parent to parent and placed in home mailboxes by these parents. That is why the atmosphere was what it was.
b. When the meeting began the VHBoE representatives, already stunned by the attendance, said the decision had been made and there was nothing to talk about. It caught everyone by total surprise. Why call the meeting then?

The people of Oxmoor Valley are just folks who want the best for their children. The