Photo: Signs posted outside the town hall meeting room. (Emma Kirkemier/Messenger)
02-24-2023
Local officials held a town hall meeting on Thursday, February 23 to discuss a bill proposed by State Senator Andrew Jones which would cap occupational taxes at 1 percent statewide.
City of Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford warned that, if passed, this bill could drastically affect the budgets of Gadsden, Attalla, Rainbow City, Glencoe and Southside.
Jones proposes to cap the Occupational License Fee, or OLF, at 1 percent. Etowah County municipalities currently tax OLF at 2 percent, funding city services without increasing property taxes for residents.
“The population of the City of Gadsden triples from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” Ford said.
The Occupational License Fee is paid by that two-thirds daytime population, who necessitate and benefit from city services like fire and police protection.
See a recording of the session posted by the City of Gadsden here.