School Superintendent Dr. Matt Akin announced today that the Gulf Shores City Board of Education has filed a lawsuit to challenge the distribution of sales tax they say should be shared proportionately between both school districts in Baldwin County.

“Gulf Shores businesses contribute 15% of this countywide sales tax,” Akin explained. “The tax provides approximately $25 million to support county schools, yet children in Gulf Shores receive zero. We feel strongly state law and basic fairness require that a portion of that money should benefit our schools and our children. Today, we get zero.”

The 1% sales tax at issue originated in 1983. At that time, there was only a single public school district in Baldwin County. The city of Gulf Shores created its own school system and separated from the Baldwin County school district in 2017.

“We have tried for some time to resolve this matter outside the courts but have been unable to do so,” Akin said. “Now we are asking the courts to rule that a portion of this tax revenue rightfully and fairly belongs to the children of Gulf Shores.”

Mobile law firm Cunningham Bounds is representing the school district and filed the lawsuit.