FAIRHOPE — The Fairhope City Council discussed on Monday the possibility of enacting a local gas tax. The tax would be anywhere from one to four cents per gallon.
According to Alabama law, the municipal tax could be used for road construction, reconstruction, maintenance, mass transit, repair of roads, bridges and rights-of-way, traffic regulation and enforcing traffic and motor vehicle laws.
Fairhope and Perdido Beach are the only municipalities in Baldwin County that do not currently have a local gas tax. The city of Loxley has a three-cent gas tax that earns around $1.2 million a year. The city of Daphne has a one-cent gas tax that makes about $215,000 a year.
Bay Minette, Elberta, Foley and Gulf Shores also have a three-cent gas tax.
Council member Jack Burrell spoke during the work session Monday saying he wanted to debate whether the city needed to enact a new tax just because every other city has done so.
Council member Corey Martin said he thought the gas tax was a good idea and a way to give back to the citizens. He said the money could go toward the $1.5 million in needed resurfacing projects. Martin told 1819 News he had been trying to bring the gas tax to Fairhope for three years.
No measures were voted on, and no ordinance has been presented.
During the regular portion of the meeting, the council approved an unrelated resolution approving a bid for a city-wide road repair, resurfacing and striping project. Asphalt Services, Inc. will perform the $900,792.38 job.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
