Tax levy at 1st meeting in February
As you are preparing agendas for upcoming commission meetings, it is critically important for the county’s ad valorem tax levy to be set at the first meeting in February 2015. Legislation enacted in 2014 changed this process so that the 2015 levy will not have to be repeated every year unless the rate changes. A sample resolution for this purpose is available from the Association of County Administrators of Alabama’s Resources Page at the “Tax Levy” link.
Be part of “ONE voice” in the Alabama Legislature
The 2014 tax levy legislation, mentioned above, is a great example of significant new law – beneficial to counties — that would not be on the books today without 67 counties working together through ACCA. This year’s session is already packed with issues affecting counties, and the best way to make sure you are equipped to be effective is to attend one of the upcoming ACCA District Meetings. Between January 22 and February 9, there are six supper meetings around the state, so you can choose the time and place that are most convenient for you. Details are on the homepage at www.alabamacounties.org.
Make Smart Purchasing Decisions with the County Joint Bid Program
If your county plans to purchase heavy equipment, road signs or herbicides in 2015, you will want to be sure to review the specs and prices for the County Joint Bid Program. A team of county engineers and ACCA work together to offer a variety of items that counties need, and each one has already been properly bid in accordance with Alabama law.
Cyber Liability Coverage Added to ACCA Liability Self-Insurance Fund Inc.
With frequent news reports of identity theft and unauthorized access to sensitive personal and financial data, counties have to protect themselves from lawsuits that could arise if the county had a data breach of credit card numbers, Social Security numbers or other information. That’s why ACCA is pleased to announce that cyber liability coverage is now part of the 2015 Liability Self-Insurance Fund Coverage Document. Through a partnership with County Reinsurance Limited, fund members get – at no additional cost – online tools to help prevent a data breach and step-by-step guidelines for how to respond when a breach occurs. A link to this eRisk Hub can be found on the Cyber Liability page of the Insurance Section of the ACCA website. The pre-assigned Liability Contact Person for each Liability Fund Member should contact Marcia Collier (mcollier@alabamacounties.org or 334-263-7594) for the county’s specific login and code.
New Role with ACCA
Sallie Gowan, who has been our communication director as well as part of our lobbying team for four years, is taking on a different role with ACCA in 2015. Beginning this month, she will work on a contract basis from home with a focus on communications and publications projects. Her email address (sgowan@alabamacounties.org) will remain active, and we are glad that she will still help “67 counties, ONE voice” to be heard around the state and around the U.S.
Hot 5 is a weekly newsletter from the Association of County Commissions of Alabama