Jefferson County Commissioner William Bell this morning told the county attorney and interim finance director Travis Hulsey that they are not doing enough to put the 1,000 county employees, currently on unpaid leave, back to work.Bell a new commissioner to the Jefferson County Commission wants Attorney Jeff Sewell and the county interim finance Director Travis Hulsey to explore other options to bring those 1,000 employees back to work sooner than later. Bell recommends exploring a bridge loan to pay the employees.
Sewell said the county should not do anything until it has heard from the Alabama Supreme Court handling issues related to the county occupational tax. Well Sewell I thought the legislature handle this issue dealing with the occupational tax in the special call session. So what you telling me is the legislators and Gov. Riley wasted our tax dollars on a session that really didn’t mean much, because the State Supreme Court have to still rule. What if they rule that it’s unconstitutional and strike down the occupational tax for Jefferson County, what happens then? Residents of Jefferson County please pay close attention to this matter, someone is being dishonest about this issue and this crisis here in Jefferson County. I certainly believe it’s our legislators and our county commissioners.
Millions in tax dollars are being held in escrow while the courts decide on the legality of occupational taxes being collected and placed in escrow. Earlier this month, Gov. Bob Riley signed into law new occupational tax measures for Jefferson County, in hopes of relieving the county's financial crisis. The new laws so far have not provided immediate release of the money currently held in escrow. Seems like a waste of time to me.
Come on Alabama Supreme Court this is a crisis and it’s a financial crisis that affecting the lives of many, we need an answer so that Jefferson County can move on. Maybe our county commissioners need to get out of those four walls at the county commission and go protest at the Supreme Court and get their voices heard, that is what we elected them to do be our voice and that’s what they promised us to be our voice.
I doubt seriously if they would do that, but they know how to make some noise when it’s election and campaign season.
