Alabama

Advocates pushing for further grocery tax reduction in Alabama

Published

2 years ago

February 12, 2024

Advocates pushing for further grocery tax reduction in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Alabama lawmakers say they are hearing from their constituents, and food costs are a big concern.

“They care more about their groceries right now,” said state Rep. Penni McClammy, D-Montgomery County. “Of course we care about education. Don’t get me wrong. Let’s see what we can do to get Alabamians a relief.”

Last session, lawmakers passed legislation to gradually cut the state’s 4% grocery tax by half. It dropped to 3% last year.

The goal was to get it to 2% this year, but that is not happening.

A prerequisite for the cut was for estimated tax collections for the Education Trust Fund to go up at least 3.5%. Right now, officials say estimates are a little less than 2%.

For now, Alabamians will have to wait.

“They are very grateful for the 1 cent grocery tax reduction, but they are also, in many times, frustrated that we did not cut the full 4 cent of the grocery tax,” said Akiesha Anderson with Alabama Arise, a group that helps people living in poverty.

The group says a possible solution is amending last year’s grocery tax cut and requiring a 2% Education Trust Fund prerequisite.

Alabama Arise says if the tax is lowered further, the Education Trust Fund will still have enough money to fulfill its current obligations to the state’s schools.

The Alabama Education Association says it is a balance.

“We are not in opposition to cutting the grocery tax, but we’re going to have to find other revenue streams in order to keep our Education Trust Fund strong,” said Allison King with the Alabama Education Association.

“We’ve got to identify how we can resolve the immediate needs of the families, which are the definite food insecurity issues, while also making sure that all our education institutions are meeting the needs of the students,” said state Rep. Troy Stubbs, R-Elmore County.

Alabama is one of 13 states that taxes groceries, including Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee.

Sign up for the WSFA Newsletter and get the latest local news and breaking alerts in your email!

Source link

Click to comment

Alabama

Alabama hires former college offensive lineman as assistant tight ends coach

Published

7 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Press Room

Alabama hires former college offensive lineman as assistant tight ends coach

Alabama football is hiring Noah Fisher to be its assistant tight ends coach, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.

Fisher spent two seasons as a graduate assistant working with the offensive line and tight ends at Louisville before joining the Tide’s staff. He played three years on the offensive line at South Alabama and spent one season with Tulane. The Jaguars started Fisher along its offensive line when he was a player for multiple games.

The Crimson Tide appear to want to use their tight ends in multiple ways in the future including as extra blockers along the line of scrimmage. Fisher looks as if he can assist the Tide with this mission.

Justin Smith is the Managing Editor and Lead Writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine with over 10 years of writing experience & expertise. Smith has consistently delivered high quality, extensively researched information on the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team that fans can trust. Smith is official credentialed media with the University of Alabama under Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He is also the Director of Recruiting for Touchdown Enterprises, specializing in scouting and analyzing high school recruits around the nation, specifically focusing on recruits within the state of Alabama.

Source link

Alabama

Petition calls on State of Alabama to fund fix for Prichard sewer system after spills

Published

17 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Press Room

Petition calls on State of Alabama to fund fix for Prichard sewer system after spills

PRICHARD, Ala. (NBC 15) — Sewage overflows during storms in Prichard are sending wastewater into local waterways that feed Mobile Bay, prompting an environmental group to push for state funding to upgrade aging infrastructure.

Mobile Baykeeper says sewage overflows during storms flow into Three Mile Creek, then into the Mobile River, and ultimately end up in Mobile Bay. The group said that last week, during heavy rain, more than 256,000 gallons of sewage spilled into Gum Tree Branch and Three Mile Creek.

Mobile Baykeeper has launched a petition seeking funding from the state of Alabama to fix Prichard’s old water infrastructure.

Source link