Important Information on Amendments 3, 4 & 14, Affecting Cherokee County

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The Cherokee County Commission recently made a move to adopt “Resolutions of Support” for three Constitutional Amendments having a direct impact on the county; those being 3, 4 and 14.

Amendment 14 is the one that has raised the most concern – because if 14 fails, a total of six local acts would be nullified including the Sunday sale of alcoholic beverages authorized for on-premises consumption in Cedar Bluff and sale of alcoholic beverages in municipalities of 1,300 to 1,500 in population, within the corporate limits.

Other acts will include – the Cherokee County Lodging Tax which applies to Bed & Breakfast establishments; Reduced Fee Pistol Permits for those age 65 and above; the Booking Fee in connection with the County Detention Center – and the Recording Fee rate increase through the Probate Judge’s Office, made in order to bring that cost in line with surrounding areas.

Voting YES on passage of Amendment 14 will affirm all local laws that have been passed by the Legislature since 1984 – meaning things will remain as they are now.

For additional information on these amendments and an in-depth interview with Kirk Day – Cherokee County Probate Judge and Commission Chairman – click the link below

 

You can also visit the website www.cherokeecounty-al.gov for a wealth of information.

 

 

 COUNTY COMMISSION ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF AMENDMENTS 3, 4, AND 14

During a recent meeting of the Cherokee County Commission, the commission adopted resolutions of support for Constitutional Amendments 3, 4, and 14. 

These Amendments have a direct impact on Cherokee County.

Amendment 14 is by far the most important of the three amendments.  Amendment 14 was introduced for the purpose of rectifying a technical issue in the way that the Alabama House of Representatives handles routine, procedural votes.  The current process poses a threat to hundreds of local laws that Alabamians rely on to support public institutions like school systems, volunteer firefighters, and community hospitals across the state.  The passing of Amendment 14 would correct this technicality and affirm all local laws that have been passed by the Legislature since 1984. 

Several Cherokee County local acts would be nullified if Amendment 14 fails:

  • (1999) Cherokee County lodging tax: applies to bed and breakfast establishments, retroactive to September 1, 1999, Act 97- 604
  • (2003) Cherokee County Sheriff pistol permits: fee reduced for individuals age 65 and over, Act 87-433
  • (2003) Cherokee Co., alcoholic beverages, municipalities 1,300 to 1,500 inhabitants, municipal option elections re sale within corporate limits
  • (2015) Cherokee County Sheriff, booking fee in county jail, collection by clerk
  • (2015) Cherokee County Probate Judge: recording fees, County Commission authorized to increase, distribute.
  • (2016) Cedar Bluff: alcoholic beverages, Sunday sales authorized for on-premises consumption

 

Any Local Act that is nullified by the failure of Amendment 14 would have to be processed as a new act, costing local governments across the state millions of dollars.

Amendment 3 would simplify the process by which local acts move through the legislature and allows the vote of the citizens of the affected county to ultimately decide the fate of the act.  For example, a local act proposed on behalf of Cherokee County would pass or fail depending on the votes tallied in Cherokee County, even if the act failed to pass in a majority of the other counties.

Amendment 4 would allow county governments to carry out specific management and administrative decisions for the benefit of local citizens without being required to gain permission from the State Legislature beforehand.  Activities which would be covered by this Amendment would be: personnel programs, public transportation programs, county office operations, and emergency assistance programs. It will not give counties the ability to tax on demand and it will not infringe upon the rights of property owners.  Amendment 4 would not create home rule for local county government—it only creates a means for timely administrative and management decisions to be made for routine operations.

For more information on these Statewide Constitutional Amendments and others, go to the website www.alabamavotes.gov/statewideballotmeasures.aspx?sm=voters

 

 

 

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