Property tax proposal goes untouched in special session

MONTGOMERY — A statewide lottery isn’t the only major revenue-raising proposal that failed in this month’s special session of the Alabama Legislature.

Lawmakers last week held marathon debates over a lottery — Gov. Robert Bentley’s proposed solution to Alabama’s chronic budget shortfalls — before finally rejecting the lottery plan and leaving Montgomery to lick their political wounds. Another bill, which would use the BP oil spill settlement to pay down the state’s looming debts, remains in limbo until lawmakers return.

Those weren’t the only options. A proposed constitutional amendment that would raise the state’s property taxes — which are among the lowest in the nation — has yet to get a hearing in a Senate committee. With only a few days left in the session, the proposal’s chances of clearing both houses are vanishingly slim.

“It’s very frustrating,” said Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, who introduced the amendment.

Read more: http://www.annistonstar.com/news/state/property-tax-proposal-goes-untouched-in-special-session/article_8137b21a-6cbc-11e6-94d4-93e37b7f6a1b.html