I prefer to have a local referendum that spells out exactly what would be done with the money locally, never send it to Montgomery, spend 100% of it locally and let the people vote on it and decide if it’s worth it.” – Randall Shedd Prefers Letting The People Decide If They Want A Gas Tax

Randall Shedd Prefers Letting The People Decide If They Want A Gas Tax

District 11 Alabama House of Representative Randall Shedd (R) from Fairview had a quick response to the Cullman and Blount County Commission’s for a support a $1.2 billion bond issuance initiative led by the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA).

ACCA will seek legislative approval for bond issue during the 2017 legislative session.

The road improvement bond proposal – approved at the ACCA Annual Legislative Conference earlier this month – calls for a three-cent per gallon increase on gasoline and diesel fuel that would expire when the bonds are repaid.

In 2017, Cullman County operates with an annual road budget of approximately $8.6 million dollars. Assuming the ACCA proposal receive legislative approval, Cullman County’s share of the bond issue would amount to roughly $19 million dollars. During Tuesday morning’s regularly scheduled meeting, the Cullman County Commission voted unanimously to support the $1.2 billion bond issuance.

Shedd had strong thoughts Wednesday afternoon on the matter of recent resolutions by county commissions in his district calling for the new 3 cents per gallon gas tax for roads. Simply stated Shedd is not interested in sending more money to Montgomery in hopes of getting part of it back.

Shedd made it clear he prefers to work with local county commissioners and local legislators to allow voters to approve additional gas tax for roads:

“I see three problems with this gas tax proposal:

• It is a new tax without a vote of the people.
• It is borrowing money
• It sends money to Montgomery hoping we get some of back in road projects

I prefer to have a local referendum that spells out exactly what would be done with the money locally, never send it to Montgomery, spend 100% of it locally and let the people vote on it and decide if it’s worth it.”

Shedd also said he understands people rarely vote to raise taxes, but he pointed out that last November the people of Blount County, which is in his legislative district voted to do just that.

“Leaders of Blount County came to the legislative delegation with a specific plan which would add a new tax in Blount County and spelled out exactly how it would spent, and a large portion of it went to roads. I sponsored the local legislation to let the people vote on it and the voters themselves decided it was worth it. It passed by a large margin because the leaders did a good job of explaining the need and we guaranteed by law how it would be spent with 100% of it spent locally.”

Shedd believes if other county leaders would come to the local legislative delegation with a good plan and commit to explaining it to the voters he would sponsor local legislation to allow the people to vote on it (except in Blount County). Shedd said the people of Blount County were very generous last November and he wouldn’t expect them to do it again.”