The Alabama State House has passed the Jefferson County occupational tax bill and accountability bill.
On Wednesday morning, after debating the occupational tax bill, the first attempt to pass the bill failed on a 14-15 vote. A motion to reconsider the vote was made and the bill was passed on a 17-15 vote. This means the House has approved the Jefferson County occupational tax at .45 percent and will include professionals and could be voted out by citizens by 2017. Rep. Jack Williams from Vestavia Hills was the only Republican to vote for the occupational tax bill.
After a quick debate, the accountability bill was passed 25-1 with Rep. Mary Moore being the only one voting against. Rep. Paul DeMarco, who sponsored the accountability bill, was blasted during the debates by Moore for introducing the accountability bill but not voting for the occupational tax bill.
The accountability bill will now force Jefferson County to hire a county manager by 2011 and a comptroller sometime this year.
Courtesy of myfoxal.com
I am so glad that they are giving the citizens of Jefferson a chance to vote on this in 8 years. This is how to run a county, force something on the community then give those community members a chance to vote on it 8 years after the fact. It is good to see democracy working for these citizens.
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