Limited Home Rule was passed by voters in the November 2006 election. It was listed on the ballot like this:

“Shall the provisions of Act. No. 2005-200 which authorizes the county to abate certain health and safety nuisances be applicable in the unincorporated areas of Tuscaloosa County?”

Most people voted for this because it sounded good and or they simply did not know exactly what they were voting for. It passed by only 238 votes, surely not a mandate! We cannot change the past, but we can affect the future! There are three ways to deal with “Limited Home Rule.”

1. Our County Commissioners can put this back on the ballot and let the people of Tuscaloosa County repeal it by a vote. Our Commissioners were asked to do that, and have declined.

2. We can petition for it to be put back on the ballot. We have to have 10% of the registered voters in the unincorporated areas of the county to sign the petition. This is what we are currently doing.

 

3. We can elect Commissioners who will not pass these ordinances and who will put this back on the ballot and let the people of Tuscaloosa County repeal it by a vote

Under “Limited Home Rule” (the official title is The Alabama Limited Self-Governance Act) there are five areas that our Commissioners are limited to, and therefore they can only pass ordinances in these areas. They are (1)abatement of weeds, (2)control of animals and animal nuisances, (3)control of litter, (4)junkyard control of areas which create a public nuisances, and (5)abatement of noise, unsanitary sewage, or pollution.

Please understand: the citizens of Tuscaloosa County do not get to vote for or against any of these possible future ordinances. They can be passed at any time without the specific consent of the people! Why do we need ordinances on some of these issues? What is the Health Department for?

If you think “Limited Home Rule” is limited, read the quote below.

“The passage of the Health and Safety Powers Act provides counties with an excellent opportunity to exercise self-governance in abating certain nuisances within the county. However, this new act has  limited application. Therefore, the Association supports any further legislative efforts to  grant counties additional self-governance powers in other important areas of county concern.” Association of County Commissioners of Alabama, Item 22, Legislative Program for 2008. (Emphasis ours.)

Could that include taxing and zoning? It certainly can! Remember their “temporary” one cent sales tax!

Not so limited is it? Should it be called “Unlimited Home Rule”? More power seeks more power. Where will it end?

It will end when enough good people of Tuscaloosa County say, “ENOUGH!” Will YOU stand with us?