Birmingham, AL – Jefferson County's financial problems have increased with a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that the county's occupational tax is unconstitutional.
The court ruled unanimously Wednesday that citizens didn't have the required public notice of the tax law enacted by the Legislature in 2009.
The sponsor of the legislation, Democratic Rep. John Rogers, says the ruling increases the likelihood that Jefferson County will have to file bankruptcy because of its financial problems, including more than $3 billion in sewer debt.
County Commissioner Jimmie Stephens says the county is looking at more cuts in services if it can't persuade the Legislature to pass another revenue-raising measure soon. Rogers said that is unlikely to happen.
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