Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle is leading a statewide effort to garner voter support for Amendment 11 on the upcoming Nov. 8 ballot.
“Simply put, Amendment 11 means jobs and economic growth for Alabama,” said Battle.
The constitutional amendment, unanimously approved by the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives, is designed to help Alabama’s cities secure major industrial projects. Battle is championing the amendment because of Huntsville’s recent success in recruiting 16,000 new jobs with companies like Polaris, Remington, and GE Aviation.
“Competition for top industries is fierce and we are vying against well-oiled recruitment teams from other states and countries,” said Battle. “We need every tool in the economic toolkit if Alabama is going to capture the good-paying jobs and quality industries we want. Amendment 11 gives us that tool.”
Officially called the 21st Century Manufacturing Zone Act, Amendment 11 essentially allows industry to repay local governments for the incentives required to secure the project. Battle calls it “a win-win for taxpayers, citizens, and industry.”
The legislation is only applicable to big industrial projects and requires a minimum investment of $100 million on a site larger than 250 contiguous acres. Local governments can create a Tax Increment Financing Zone (TIF) where revenues generated from increased property values within the zone repay incentives for the project. This allows the industry to pay for its own incentives, without sacrificing current tax revenues generated for roads, schools, and public safety.
“We don’t want voters to be confused when they see the word ‘tax’ in the TIF definition on the ballot,” said Battle. “There are no new taxes and no loss of current tax revenues. Only new revenues produced within the tax district as a result of the $100 plus million dollar investment will be used to refund cities for the cost of incentives.”
The Amendment is drawing support from the Alabama League of Municipalities, Alabama Department of Commerce, Business Council of Alabama, Economic Development Association of Alabama, and from elected and business leaders across the state. Mayors from the River Region, Shoals, Wiregrass, and Sand Mountain have stepped up to say “yes” to Amendment 11 as well as Dothan Mayor Mike Schmitz, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson and Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange.
“It puts the financial responsibility back on the industries and protects taxpayer dollars,” said Strange.
Jim Page, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, believes the Amendment gives less wealthy communities a chance to land big industries. “If they meet the requirements, these communities can compete now,” Page said. “They wouldn’t be able to afford to without it.”
Battle determined there are at least 84 industrial sites in Alabama that could potentially benefit from voter approval of Amendment 11.
“The goal is to streamline the process so that we don’t lose major industrial prospects that could bring thousands of good-paying jobs to Alabama,” he said.
For more information, visit VoteYesOn11Alabama.com.
