Joe Reed of the Alabama Education Association told the audience gathered at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center Thursday night that if Gov. Bob Riley’s Tax Package did not pass next week, nearly 6, 000 teachers and school administrators could lose their jobs.

Reed, along with Mayor James Perkins, Jr. and AEA district director Tommy Green, were among the speakers who participated in a public question and answer session regarding Amendment One.

The meeting was sponsored by the Delta Pi Lambda chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Alpha Phi Alpha member Anthony Sanders said the fraternity decided to hold this meeting to help inform the public about the upcoming election.

There was a small crowd who attended the meeting, most of them made up of teachers and school officials.

However, the audience size did not deter Perkins and Reed from explaining why the public should vote &uot;yes&uot; on Sept. 9.

Perkins said he strongly believes that if the tax package does not pass, legislators will still have to find a way to make up the state’s deficit.

Perkins said that if Amendment One fails to gain the public’s vote, the results could have a large impact on Selma.

Both the mayor and Sanders agreed there were some aspects of Amendment One they did not like, but felt it would be better overall for the state.

Audience members who attended the meeting said they now have a better understanding of how the tax package will affect their lives.

Another audience member, who did not wish to be identified, said there is no reason why teachers and administrators should vote against the tax package.