HB286 Summary

• Creates the Etowah County Jobs Act to propose a local constitutional amendment revising the allocation of Etowah County's existing one cent county sales tax beginning October 1, 2019.

• Allocates specific amounts from tax proceeds to: Smeltzer Education Training Center ($60,000), Mental Retardation 310 Center and CED Mental Health Center ($50,000 combined), and Etowah County Mega Sports Complex Authority ($300,000).

• Dedicates 50% of remaining proceeds to schools (85%) and Gadsden State Community College (15%), with up to 35% permitted for certified personnel salaries due to financial conditions.

• Allocates remaining 50% of proceeds to: Community Development Committee (18%), Library Committee (6%), volunteer fire departments (6%), Sheriff's Department (5%), Highway Development Committee ($1,000,000 with Southside Bridge completion priority), and Riverfront Development Committee ($500,000).

• Reduces Etowah County Fund allocation by $880,000 and redistributes that amount to Drug Enforcement Task Force (45.8%), District Attorney for assistant hire (11.2%), and Sheriff's Department (43%); requires voter approval through election held under state law.