Alabama § 45-40-243 - Consolidation of Offices and Duties.

§ 45-40-243. Consolidation of Offices and Duties.

(a) At the expiration of the term of office of the office of Tax Assessor and the office of Tax Collector of Lawrence County, there shall be established the office of County Revenue Commissioner in Lawrence County. A county revenue commissioner shall be elected at the next general election prior to the expiration of the term of office of the tax assessor and the tax collector and at the general election every six years thereafter. The county revenue commissioner shall serve for a term of six years beginning on the first day of October next after his or her election, and until his or her successor is elected and has qualified.

(b) The county revenue commissioner shall do and perform all acts, duties, and functions required by law performed either by the tax assessor or by the tax collector of the county including, but not limited to, the assessment of property for ad valorem taxation, the collection of the taxes, the keeping of records, and the making of reports concerning assessments for and the collection of taxes.

(c) Subject to the approval of the county commission, the county revenue commissioner shall appoint and fix the duties of a sufficient number of deputies, clerks, and assistants to perform properly the duties of his or her office. The acts of the deputies shall have the same force and legal effect as if performed by the county revenue commissioner.

(d) Before entering upon the duties of his or her office, the county revenue commissioner shall take the oath of office prescribed by Article XVI of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, and execute a bond in a sum fixed by the county commission, giving as security thereon a bonding company authorized to do business in Alabama. The bond shall be conditioned, as other official bonds are conditioned, and shall be approved by and filed with the judge of probate. The cost of the bond shall be paid out of the general funds of the county on a warrant of the county commission and shall be a preferred claim against the county.

(e) The county commission shall provide the necessary offices for the county revenue commissioner and shall provide all stationery, equipment, and office supplies, not otherwise furnished by law, needed for the efficient performance of the duties of the office.

(f) The county revenue commissioner shall collect and pay into the general fund of the county all fees, percentages, commissions, and other allowances which the tax assessor and the tax collector are now or hereafter by law authorized or directed to charge or collect for the performance of a duty imposed by law on the officers and transferred to and imposed on the county revenue commissioner. As compensation for performance of the duties of his or her office, the county revenue commissioner shall receive a minimum salary as provided by Section 40-6A-2, payable in the manner prescribed by the county commission, out of the county general fund with the exact amount to be set by resolution of the county commission prior to the county revenue commissioner taking office.

(g) The offices of Tax Assessor and Tax Collector of Lawrence County shall be abolished effective on the last day of the term to which they are elected.

(h) It is the purpose of this section to conserve revenue and promote the public convenience in Lawrence County by consolidating the offices of tax assessor and tax collector into one county office.