2019 Birmingham special election
The 2019 Birmingham special election was a city wide election held on October 8, 2019 to fill vacancies in three Birmingham City Council seats and to conduct a referendum on renewing the city's "School Bond Tax".
The School Bond Tax is a 2.8-mill ad valorum property tax used to pay debt service on the city's general obligation bonds to construct school buildings. It currently provides around $27 million in yearly revenues, representing approximately 54% of all property tax revenues collected in the city. It was last renewed in 1991 for a 30-year term, and, if not approved by voters, would expire on September 30, 2021.
The Birmingham Election Commission met in May to set a date for the city-wide referendum. Under the requirements of the Mayor-Council Act, any vacant seats on the City Council, including those held by acting appointees, must also be filled during the next city-wide election.
Candidates could submit qualifications for open Council seats between August 9 and 23.
Results
- Referendum on the renewal of the School Bond Tax:
- Birmingham City Council District 1:
- Clinton Woods (incumbent)
- Sherman Collins
- Haki Muhammad
- Birmingham City Council District 6:
- Birmingham City Council District 7:
- Wardine Alexander (incumbent)
- Ray Brooks
- Lonnie Malone
References
- Prickett, Sam (April 23, 2019) "Referendum on Renewing Property Tax for Birmingham Schools Possible, Up for Discussion Next Week." BirminghamWatch
- Koplowitz, Howard (May 6, 2019) "Birmingham sets Oct. 8 special election for 3 council seats." The Birmingham News
- Koplowitz, Howard (August 6, 2019) "Candidate qualifying dates set for Birmingham council special elections." The Birmingham News
- Beahm, Anna (August 26, 2019) "Who qualified for Oct. 8 election for three Birmingham council seats?" The Birmingham News
- Beahm, Anna (September 20, 2019) "Tax votes coming up in Mountain Brook, Birmingham." The Birmingham News