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In the Region 2020 process, lack of home rule was identified as a barrier to effectively addressing many of the issues that face the region.
What’s the problem in getting home rule in Alabama?
A Birmingham News editorial in February 2004 explained that the barrier is the 1901 Constitution, "whose drafters wanted to hold on to power in Montgomery instead of giving it to counties." ...
... "Now, only a handful of counties, including Jefferson, Montgomery, St. Clair and Shelby, have home rule. That’s because unlike most of the country, Alabama requires its county governments to go through the Legislature to pass basic ordinances, such as for animal control, littering and restricting junkyards. ... It is a grossly inefficient way to govern, making county commissioners slaves to their lawmaker masters. Counties could have to wait through more than one legislative session to get what they want, no matter how non-controversial. ..."
Did you know?
A Capital Survey Research Center poll indicated statewide support for home rule. In a survey of 594 registered voters conducted Oct. 28-Nov. 5 2003 for the Alabama Education Association, 80 percent said they supported giving city and county governments home rule, "to decide local matters, including raising taxes for public schools and other programs without requiring an act of the legislature, but requiring a vote of the people."
The question gauged support for a list of proposals that might be considered by the state Legislature to solve the state’s financial problems.
For
more information on home rule, visit Alabama Citizens for Constitutional
Reform on the Web »
