Over the last few years, many in Baldwin County have echoed a claim about funding from the state of Alabama:
“We’ve got a large number of roads and other infrastructure projects that we’re trying to get done in this county, but it’s hard to do when we aren’t always getting our fair share of the funding from the state,” Baldwin County Commissioner Joe Davis said. “Baldwin County puts a good amount of revenue into the system, but it’s always questionable what kind of return we see on that revenue from year to year. it’s certainly something we’re looking at closely.”
With the state legislature looking at possibly further raising the gasoline tax this year, the question becomes even more important to Baldwin County residents and leaders alike: Is Baldwin County really a “donor county” for other less prosperous regions of the state or are we getting our fair share?
Possible gas tax increase
While Baldwin County’s contributions to state gas tax revenues have risen by $3.8 million over the last five years, the state’s appropriation back to Baldwin County only increased by $930,000 - seeing the county get back slightly over a quarter of the money it puts into the system.
As the state legislature starts its new session soon, a new state gas tax increase is one of the primary bills. Gov. Kay Ivey has requested a 12 cent increase, with half of the increase going directly to the state and the rest to be split between the counties and municipalities.
The proposed gas tax increase would be the first in the state since 1992.
Newly-elected State Senator Chris Elliott said he’s been studying the issue closely for some time.
“Part of our campaign was about getting our fair share, and that is what I’m going to be focused on during this gas tax debate,” Elliott said. “Part of what I have been lobbying for is making sure whatever the calculation is with the split between the state, municipalities and the counties works out as best as possible for Baldwin County. That’s necessary for my vote. Without that, it won’t have my support.”
Elliott said he wants to make certain Baldwin County’s calculations for the split of that money include the sizable tourist population that visits the area.
“Part of the push will be to see if we can find a way to insure that the population portion of the distribution calculation included some mechanism to account for the tourists we see, the extra 100,000 people we see in Baldwin County on any given weekend because they use our roads, too,” Elliott said.
Elliott added that he will continue to work with state officials to make certain Baldwin County is getting what he feels it deserves.
I am working with ALDOT to track every single nickel that is spent in Baldwin County because no matter what deal is made, it is important to adhere to old adage from my hero Ronald Reagan, which is ‘trust, but verify,’” Elliott said. “It’s all about investing revenue where the revenue is generated, and that’s Baldwin County.”
Baldwin County Commissioner Jeb Ball said the county commission is also watching what the legislature may do with the proposed gas tax increase.
“We’re monitoring what is going to be going on in Montgomery with this gas tax debate and it’s important to us to make sure we’re getting our fair share,” Ball said. “If we can get more money coming into the county from a possible change, that means we have the ability to finish more projects and fix issues we know we have or may have coming in the future.”
Ball said Baldwin County’s continued growth creates more issues for the county’s roads that will need to be addressed.
“Capacity issues, stormwater runoff projects, watershed projects - those are all issues we’re going to have to address, and having additional state funding would certainly be a big help in dealing with those needs,” Ball said. “We have been a donor county for the rest of the state, and we want to make sure we’re getting the fair share we need to continue generating revenue and making sure the needs of our citizens and visitors continue to be met.”
