By Alabama Public Radio
Fort Morgan, AL – Some Fort Morgan residents are complaining their taxes have increased but their services have not. Local taxes and fees have gone up since Gulf Shores annexed the peninsula's main road last April. The residential property around the road was not annexed, but Gulf Shores officials say all peninsula residents now live in the Gulf Shores police jurisdiction. Gulf Shores officials say the city's police jurisdiction is defined as all unincorporated land within one mile of the city limits. They say state law requires everyone who lives in that area to pay half the local taxes city residents pay. But about 600 Fort Morgan residents say city services such as police and fire protection have not improved. Gulf Shores' mayor says those residents don't get police protection because the taxes they pay aren't enough to cover all the costs.