HOUSE AND SENATE TACKLE BUDGETS
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Both House and Senate took up the budgets this week. The House passed the General Fund Budget and the Senate passed the Education Budget. Next week is shaping up to be a busy week as budgets remain on tap. The legislature is scheduled for a three-day week next week as well. Only seven legislative days remain in the 2009 regular session. As the days quickly disappear, the legislative process kicks into high gear with legislators wanting to pass their bills. With gambling still lingering on the horizon, it is anyone's guess as to how the session will progress.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY OCCUPATIONAL TAX
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This week, the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders (GBAHB) asked the HBAA to help address the growing debate over occupational taxes. Currently, two bills are making their way through the process calling for a forty-five hundredths of one percent (0.0045) tax on net income before taxes. Although somewhat better than the one percent of gross that had been proposed, this measure would still constitute an excessive tax on business in Jefferson County. The bill would target anyone doing business in Jefferson County. This means that builders, subcontractors, Realtors, and others in our industry would be hit. Business groups are lining up to oppose the measure, but it is imperative for anyone doing business in Jefferson County to contact your Representative and ask that he or she oppose the occupational tax in its current form.
This issue is especially troubling as a precedent-setting event. With tax revenues declining in a number of cities, new sources of funding are being sought. If passed in Jefferson County, other communities may very well seek to implement similar occupational taxes. The HBAA will continue to work with the GBAHB to fight the occupational tax and avert its cropping up elsewhere in the state. |
Jefferson County House of Representatives Members
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The Senate Judiciary Committee adopted a substitute for SB 397 (Barron, Fyffe) and received its second reading in the Senate. The substitute was negotiated by the HBAA Investment Property Owners Council, Realtors, Alabama Law Institute, Trial Lawyers and others. The HBAA is working with Senator Barron to get the bill on an upcoming calendar.
Rep. Greg Canfield (Vestavia) 334-242-7763
gcanfield@bellsouth.net
Rep. Marika Coleman (Birmingham) 334-242-7755 Merika.coleman@alhouse.org
Rep. Paul Demarco (Homewood) 334-242-7740
paul@pljpc.com
Rep. Owen Drake (Leeds) 334-242-7727
odrake208@charter.net
Rep. Priscilla Dunn (Bessemer) 334-242-7684 Priscilla.dunn@alhouse.org
Rep. Earl Hilliard, Jr. (Birmingham) 334-242-7684 earl.hilliard@alhouse.org
Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin (Hoover) 334-242-7682 mary.mcclurkin@alhouse.org
Rep. Mary Moore (Birmingham) 334-242-7608
mary.moore@alhouse.org
Rep. Pat Moore (Pleasant Grove) 334-242-7775
pat.moore@alhouse.org
Rep. Arthur Payne (Trussville) 334-242-7753
Arthur.payne@alhouse.org
Rep. Oliver Robinson (Birmingham) 334-242-7769 Oliver.robinson@alhouse.org
Rep. John Rogers (Birmingham) 334-242-7761
john.rogers@alhouse.org
Rep. Rod Scott (Fairfield) 334-242-7752
rodhscott@gmail.com
Rep. Elwyn Thomas (North Jeff) 334-242-7762 elwyn.thomas@alhouse.org
Rep. Patricia Todd (Birmingham) 334-242-7718
reptodd@gmail.com
Rep. Allen Treadaway (Morris) 334-242-7685 allen.treadaway@alhouse.org
Rep. Jack Williams (Hoover/Vestavia) 334-242-7779 jack.williams@alhouse.org
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