County commission opposes state amendment
Published 10:48 pm Monday, October 13, 2014
By Justin Averette
The Selma Times-Journal
The Dallas County Commission discussed plans to draft a resolution opposing Amendment 2 in November’s general election during Monday’s meeting.
If approved, the statewide amendment would allow the state to borrow $50 million from the Alabama Trust Fund to update armories across the state.
The issue is of great concern to the county, which splits interest generated from the Alabama Trust Fund with the state’s other 66 counties.
Last year, Dallas County earned more than $700,000 from that interest, which was used on various infrastructure projects.
The trust fund revenue comes from the state’s oil and gas revenues.
Dipping into the fund would lower the revenue coming into each county, according to Dallas County Probate Judge Kim Ballard.
“We certainly need to oppose [the amendment],” Ballard said.
The commission also reappointed several members to various boards during Monday’s meeting.
The reappointments were as follows:
•John Crear to six-year term on the Dallas County Mental Heath Board
•Maggie Peterson and Claudia Wright to four-year term on the Dallas County Public Library Board
•The Rev. F.D. Reese, W.F. Cosby and Crear to a six-year term on the Dallas County Housing Development Corporation