Alabama gasoline tax to fund tourism complex

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Posted 8:57PM on Saturday, January 12, 2002

FLORENCE, Ala. - Two counties and four cities could introduce a 2-cent gasoline tax pegged for a $40 million tourism proposal by Retirement Systems of Alabama. Officials in Colbert and Lauderdale, joined by mayors of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, are considering the tax proposal while awaiting an economic impact study on the RSA proposal. The study is being conducted by the University of North Alabama. "It might show we don't need this, but at least we would have this issue of funding out of the way if it is a good idea," Tuscumbia Mayor Wade Gann said earlier this week. The RSA proposal includes a tourist and convention complex along the Tennessee River. It also includes a 36-hole Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail complex in Colbert County and would group the Renaissance Tower, Florence Conference Center and a four- or five-star hotel complex in Lauderdale County. RSA chief David Bronner has committed to spending at least $40 million on the project if local governments will meet certain requests, such as providing infrastructure, obtaining property for the golf course and leasing the tower and conference center to RSA. Officials estimate $15 million to $20 million would be needed to meet their obligation. The combined project could be worth more than $65 million when factoring in the values of the tower, conference center, property to be used for the golf course and the completion of the River Heritage program in Florence, another element of the proposal. "I will go to our council and say this is what we think is the best way to make this a doable project," Florence Mayor Dick Jordan said. Jordan and the other officials must convince their councils and commissions to go along with the gas tax increase. "If one entity doesn't go with this, the whole thing falls off the cliff," Sheffield Mayor Ian Sanford said. The Colbert County Commission has already passed a resolution asking that a legislative act be passed to increase the gasoline tax by 2 cents per gallon at all businesses outside the municipalities in the county. At a meeting Thursday, officials decided the best approach would be for the counties to adopt a resolution asking that the 2-cent tax be countywide. That would encompass the cities as well. In turn, the plan is for the cities to adopt resolutions also supporting the increase. "We need to be clear that we're all in this together," Jordan said. The Legislature must grant permission to increase the gas tax, which would likely happen during the current session. The legislation will be written to clarify that the gas tax cannot be added unless the project is done.