Ross Bridge residents petition for more school funding

Is $2 million enough for Hoover City Schools? The Ross Bridge School Association doesn't think so. 

The association of about 200 people was originally formed due to concerns over elementary school rezoning. In November, the group wrote a petition to Mayor Gary Ivey and the City Council requesting that the city increase its school funding to at least $8 million for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. Titles "Stop Starving Hoover City Schools," the petition is posted on change.org and has over 280 signatures so far.

The petition states that the city has cut school funding to $2 million in order to manage its budget deficits, but enrollment numbers continue to grow. City funding for schools has stayed at that level since 2009. 

"The current level of funding from Hoover City to the Hoover City Schools is at barely 2 percent of the Hoover City Schools budget. We feel this level is totally inadequate and we believe that it shows a lack of support for the education of our children," the petition says.

In September, the school board approved a $167 million budget, funded in part by property tax revenue and a 2007 bond issue from Jefferson County. The budget includes a $6.9 million deficit.

The proposed City of Hoover budget for 2014-2015 totals more than $140 million. Mayor Gary Ivey said that no more money will be allocated to the school system this year. He praised the "great working relationship" the council has with the school board and said they are communicating frequently over the school board's budget issues. 

"We're going to continue working with them through this problem." Ivey said.