Gilmore: Riley won’t meet with county commission

By Patrick Johnston

Published: July 29, 2008

Barbour County commissioners were looking forward to a meeting with Gov. Bob Riley regarding the county’s financial woes and their hopes of implementing a one-cent sales tax increase.
But according to Commission Chairman Earl Gilmore, it appears unlikely that meeting will occur anytime soon. Gilmore said that Riley will not meet with commissioners regarding the tax proposal.
“He refused to meet with us. He said there was no use,” Gilmore said this week. “We thought the least he would do is listen to our side.”
Riley vetoed House Bill 916 during the legislature’s regular session in May, which would have let commissioners approve a one-cent sales tax increase without a vote from residents. It had received support from Rep. Billy Beasley and Sen. Myron Penn and faced no opposition in the House or Senate.
A spokesman for the governor stated Tuesday that Riley was willing to meet with the commissioners - just not about the tax proposal.
“Governor Riley has made it clear that he will not support a proposal to increase local sales taxes unless it allows for local citizens to vote in a referendum.  The proposal in the Legislature did not allow for a referendum, which is why the governor vetoed the bill,” stated Jeff Emerson, communications director for the governor, in an e-mailed response.
“Gov. Riley has met with Sen. Penn and Rep. Beasley to discuss this issue.  He outlined his position to them and believes further meetings to discuss the same proposal again would not be productive unless supporters of this bill are willing to let citizens vote. Gov. Riley will be glad to meet with county commissioners to discuss the county’s financial conditions, but his position in support of a local referendum is not going to change.”
Six of the county’s seven commissioners have voiced support for the proposal, which would generate an estimated $1.9 million per year.
Approximately half of the revenue ($950,000) would have gone to the county’s general fund. The remaining amount would have been split between the road and bridge department ($475,000), Barbour County Schools ($237,500) and Eufaula City Schools ($237,500).
The governor vetoed the bill, which had passed the House and Senate, because it did not allow Barbour County residents the right to vote on the increase. The veto came on the last day of the regular legislative session. Efforts to push the bill through the Legislature again to overturn Riley’s veto fell short.
Commissioners were stunned with Riley’s veto and said they wanted to meet with the governor to discuss the county’s financial condition. Commissioners have said without the extra revenue, the county will lose services and some employees will lose their jobs.
Gilmore said this week that commissioners are already working on the Fiscal Year 2009 budget, which goes into effect Oct. 1.