Birmingham, Alabama – (AP) - Legislators from Alabama's most populous
county have reached a compromise on a tax bill and are asking for a
special session to end a partial shutdown of county services that
threatens a National Guard callup.
Members of the Jefferson County legislative delegation, meeting
in Birmingham on Tuesday, approved a bill to enact a new
occupational tax for the area.
Rep. John Rogers said he's asking the governor to call a special
session in Montgomery beginning Monday.
More than 1,000 Jefferson County employees have been out of work
this week because courts barred the county from collecting a
previous tax that provided about $75 million annually. The
sheriff's office said it may ask for National Guard help after it
was hit with a layoff order Tuesday.
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