Maddox Backs Online Sales Tax Negotiations
A month after dropping a lawsuit over the way the online sales tax is distributed in Alabama, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox is voicing early support for an attempt to reach an agreement via negotiation. The six-term mayor is one of a number of state, local school system, county and local officials attempting to reach an accord without any court activity.
Earlier today, Baldwin County Senator Greg Albritton told lawmakers on the senate floor that the working group hopes to reach an agreement before the end of the 2026 session. That places a lot of pressure on them because there are only ten meeting days left at the statehouse.
Albritton has submitted legislation that in 2027 would see the population census used to calculate the State Simplified Users Tax (SSUT) switch from being updated every ten years to every five years.
Maddox sees Senate Bill 347 as a good start. "Senator Albritton's bill is a positive step forward and reflects progress toward a constructive partnership on this issue," Maddox wrote in a reaction released by the city. "While this is not a final resolution, it is an important part of the ongoing discussions and helps create a path for continued negotiations.
"Most importantly," he continued, "it moves Alabama toward a more accurate distribution model by allowing SSUT allocations to better reflect growth and population changes, rather than relying solely on outdated census figures."
Alabama County Commission Association Executive Director Sonny Brasfield, a Tuscaloosa native, joined Maddox and Albritton as seeing introduction of the bill a positive step forward because it doesn't threaten the program or put it into constitutional question.
Albritton told media the bill shows a good faith effort that tells the public all parties can work together to solve the issue.
More meetings are scheduled.
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