Commission’s half-cent sales tax increase legal

Published 5:15 am Thursday, March 28, 2019

The vote by the Cullman County Commission raise the sales tax by a half-cent earlier this month was legal because it is designated only for education, according to the county’s attorney.

Cullman County Schools Superintendent Shane Barnette and the school board met in an emergency meeting earlier that same morning to discuss the need for additional money for addressing a wide range of maintenance needed at county schools. 

Barnette and a delegation from the county schools administrative office then went to the County Commission meeting to ask for the half-cent sales tax increase for schools.

County attorney Chad Floyd said an increase can be made, according to state law, by the commission if it is for education.

“The commission has the authority to pass a sales tax for education only,” Floyd said. “When it is purely for education it does not have to go a referendum.”

Several residents appeared at Tuesday’s County Commission and complained that the public had not been notified of a tax increase.

When Barnette requested the tax increase from the County Commission, he said safety concerns would be addressed in schools, as well as facilities. 

He also mentioned Project X, which was announced a week later as a proposed $30 million sports complex off Alabama 157, which will also address needs for the arts and theatre.

Barnette said later that funding for the complex would initially come from a lodging tax currently collected by the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce, and 15 percent of the new half-cent sales tax.

Barnette announced the sports complex a day after Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism Director Nathan Anderson announced an $18-$20 million complex at the Cullman City Council meeting. 

David Palmer may be contacted at 256-734-2131, ext. 116.