Pickens County VFD Tax Referendum Bill Clears Senate, Heads To Governor's Desk

MONTGOMERY, AL — Pickens County residents will soon have the chance to vote on how the county's ad valorem tax revenue is used with respect to its volunteer fire departments.

House Bill 154 — sponsored by State Rep. Rodney Sullivan, R-Northport — was approved 32-0 in the Alabama Senate on Tuesday and will now head to the governor's desk to be signed into law.

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If signed by Gov. Kay Ivey, Pickens County voters will decide if the tax revenue generated by the county's ad valorem tax will be distributed to volunteer fire departments for fire protection purposes, in addition to being used to finance other necessary emergency services.

As Patch previously reported, this would include the purchase of medical equipment, rescue equipment, medical supplies and the delivery of emergency medical services.

The bill passed through the House chamber in February with 65 votes in favor, none opposed and 31 abstentions.

"The current language [for the county ad valorem tax] is so restricted that the volunteer fire departments can't properly use their funds," Sullivan told Patch last month. "This will ease that. They can't even buy a blood pressure monitor currently. In my opinion, this will be extremely beneficial down the road and will benefit every citizen of Pickens County. Our volunteer fire departments do an incredible job and this is another tool to help them better serve the county."

The measure will appear on the General Election ballot on Nov. 8 for voters in Pickens County.

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